Monster Hunter Wilds In a Gaming Multiverse Mashup

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Collaboration

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous additions and improvements, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter: World. Specifically, interactions with Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida ("Yoshi-P") and the positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover directly influenced key gameplay elements.

Yoshi-P's suggestion during the FFXIV collaboration, stemming from MMORPG conventions, led to the inclusion of on-screen attack names in Wilds' HUD. This feature, a small preview of which appeared in the Behemoth fight during the 2018 FFXIV crossover in Monster Hunter: World, allows players to see the name of their attack in real-time. The Behemoth fight itself, featuring text-based attack displays and the post-quest "Jump" emote (mirroring Final Fantasy's Dragoon), provided a foundational experience.

The success of the Witcher 3 crossover, featuring a speaking protagonist (Geralt) and dialogue choices, further inspired the inclusion of a voiced protagonist and expanded dialogue options in Monster Hunter Wilds. The team viewed the Witcher 3 collaboration as a successful test, gauging player reception to a more narrative-driven approach.

Director Yuya Tokuda's foresight, even before Wilds' active development, played a crucial role. His proactive pursuit of the Witcher 3 collaboration with CD Projekt Red directly contributed to the game's evolved design.

This insight comes from an exclusive IGN First visit to Capcom's Japan offices. For a complete preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, including in-depth interviews and gameplay footage, explore the January IGN First coverage:

• Behind Monster Hunter Wilds' New Approach to Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear
• Monster Hunter Wilds Interview and Gameplay: Meet Nu Udra, Apex of the Oilwell Basin
• Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit
• Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay