Before its official release date, fans can play a beta version of Monster Hunter Wilds early and test out the game mechanics.
Previous Monster Hunter Wilds demos have showcased the game’s performance and stability and new focus mode. October 27’s Twitch stream showcase not only gave fans a better look at the game, but also revealed that the first playtest date is just around the corner. Excited players will now have a limited time to try out the open beta before the game’s full release next year.
Here’s how players can access Monster Hunter Wilds early and what they should expect to see.
How to play Monster Hunter Wilds early with the open beta
Capcom announced that an open beta version of Monster Hunter Wilds is coming in October 2024 for all players on all supported systems.
The open beta is available for a limited time to all players who meet very general requirements. First, they must have either Steam, a PS5, or an Xbox Series X/S with an active account. They must also be more than 13 years old, owing to the game’s T rating.
There are two blocks of time for this early Monster Hunter Wilds beta. Fans who have PlayStation Plus accounts can access the game even earlier, from October 28 to October 30. Everyone else will be able to play from October 31 to November 3. All players can preload it one day ahead of time.
All players who participate in the open beta, in addition to getting to play the game early. will also receive two different bonuses. The first is a special pendant that can be used to decorate either a weapon or the character’s Seikret once the full game is released. Additionally, players will later receive a bonus pack full of healing items.
The beta version has limited features compared to the expected full game
The Monster Hunter Wilds beta has three parts that showcase the main features of the game.
Players can explore the Windward Plains either solo or in multiplayer mode. Importantly, the beta has cross-platform compatibility, meaning that players using different consoles can all play together. There are three major parts to the Monster Hunter Wilds beta:
- Character creation: full access to the final version with the ability to redesign throughout the beta and transfer the data to the full game
- Story trial: includes the opening cut scene and a playthrough of the Chatacabra hunt with basic tutorial guidance
- Doshaguma hunt: requires players to defeat the alpha Doshaguma, either with NPCs or other players
Monster Hunter Wilds is set for a full release on February 28, 2025 with significantly more features. However, fans who like the beta can pre-order the game for their chosen platform for between $69.99 and $109.99 depending on the edition.