Monster Hunter Wilds Redefines the Series with Open World Gameplay

Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds builds upon the success of Monster Hunter World, reimagining the series with a groundbreaking open-world experience.

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A Seamless Hunting Ground

Monster Hunter Wilds plunges players into a vibrant, interconnected world where the ecosystem responds dynamically to player actions. In a Summer Game Fest interview, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, executive director Kaname Fujioka, and director Yuya Tokuda detailed the game's revolutionary design. The focus is on seamless gameplay and an immersive environment.

Like its predecessors, players are hunters exploring a new land, encountering unique creatures and resources. However, Wilds abandons the traditional mission structure for a fully explorable open world.

"Seamlessness is key to Monster Hunter Wilds," Fujioka explained. "We aimed for detailed, immersive ecosystems requiring a seamless world teeming with creatures to hunt freely."

A Dynamic World

The demo showcased diverse biomes, settlements, monster packs, and hunter NPCs. The absence of timers allows for a more flexible hunting experience. Fujioka emphasized environmental interaction: "We focused on monster pack behavior, their interactions with hunters, and their 24-hour cycles for a more organic feel."

Real-time weather and fluctuating monster populations add to the dynamism, a feat made possible by new technology, according to director Yuya Tokuda: "Creating a massive, evolving ecosystem with numerous monsters and interactive characters was challenging. Simultaneous environmental changes were previously impossible."

The global success of Monster Hunter World informed Wilds' development. Tsujimoto highlighted the importance of a global perspective: "Our global approach for Monster Hunter World, including simultaneous worldwide release and localization, helped us reach players unfamiliar with the series."