Capcom has finally revealed the next entry in the Monster Hunter series. After months of speculation and mystery, the publisher showed off what could be the biggest Monster Hunter game yet.
Just before announcing the winner of Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023, Capcom unveiled the launch trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds. The teaser showcased a hunter riding a bird-like creature through a large open desert away from an oncoming sandstorm. The hunter carried around the ever-popular great sword, a staple of the series.
The trailer confirms the return of rideable mounts which were introduced in Monster Hunter World. Monster Hunter Rise went a step further with Palamutes, a type of dog companion that aids players in battle and traversing through the map. There were several mounts featured in the trailer including one that is seemingly capable of gliding.
The teaser didn’t give players much in terms of details but it did confirm that the verticality seen in Rise will be returning. The hunter is seen in the trailer using the mount to move through various types of terrain and gliding to the top of a cliff that overlooks a massive open field. From the video, we can assume that Wilds will feature a truly open world due to the vastness of the space.
In terms of beasts, we see various land creatures but only one of the marquee monsters from the series. Rathalos, a large bipedal flying wyvern, is seen flying through the scene at the end of the trailer. It will be interesting to see which monster becomes the flagship of the next installment.
Monster Hunter Wilds is expected in 2025 which leaves a considerable gap in the calendar for 2024, the 20th anniversary of the series. It is possible that Capcom would have some sort of remaster or re-release for 2024 given how important it is to the series. It could also be possible that Capcom would focus all its efforts on Wilds and the ongoing Monster Hunter Now, which is a collaborative effort with Niantic.
The Monster Hunter series is one of Capcom’s biggest game franchises, making up a trio of well-known iconic names that includes Resident Evil and Street Fighter. Specifically, Monster Hunter World is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time with over 21 million units, with Monster Hunter Rise not too far behind.
How big of a title Monster Hunter Wilds will be is anyone’s guess right now. We are just really elated Capcom finally announced the highly anticipated sequel to Monster Hunter Rise.
Monster Hunter Wilds is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2025.
