Summary

  • Nearly 25,000 Steam users are currently running the Monster Hunter Wilds beta version.
  • This is in spite of the fact that the playtest won't actually begin until evening PT on October 31.
  • Launching the beta early is still recommended for those wanting to play the game as soon as the test kicks off, because the initial boot will prompt it to start a lengthy process of shader compilation.

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta is currently nearing 25,000 concurrent players on Steam. What makes this figure even more impressive is that the PC version of the Monster Hunter Wilds playtest hasn't even begun yet.

The next entry in Capcom's long-running franchise is presently targeting a February 2025 launch. Ahead of its debut, the Japanese developer recently announced a two-part playtest. The first stage of this Monster Hunter Wilds beta was exclusively available to PlayStation Plus members, and took place between October 28 and 30. The second part of the test, which will be cross-platform, is scheduled to kick off later today, October 31.

monster hunter wilds scarlet forest
Monster Hunter Wilds Includes Popular Accessibility Feature

The open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds gives fans a good look at the game's accessibility features, including one popular option.

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And while the preview still isn't available to play, nearly 25,000 PC gamers are already running the game's beta build. Specifically, SteamDB data shows that 24,968 Steam users are waiting to play Monster Hunter Wilds as of 6:30am PT on October 31. The beta itself will only begin at 8pm PT. The Best War Games's testing suggests that launching the beta client right now will hit players with a network error that prevents the game from fully starting.

There's a Reason to Launch Monster Hunter Wilds PC Beta Early

As for why so many people have jumped into the beta even before its release, one potential reason is that doing so ensures that the game will be playable from the moment the test kicks off. Namely, launching the beta build for the first time will prompt it to compile shaders to optimize PC performance. This process can take up to around 15 minutes, depending on one's rig. Secondly, some Monster Hunter fans may have simply launched the game out of curiosity, thinking they'd be able to play the beta earlier than Capcom said. This is because Steam usually grays out the "play" button for preloads of upcoming releases rather than let users click on it.

The Monster Hunter Wilds beta will run until Sunday, November 3, at 6:59pm PT. Participating in the playtest will see players earn a few rewards, including a varied pack of consumables and a cute cosmetic that they can use to customize their character. The hunter and their Palico companion created during the beta will both be transferable to the finished game. No other data will carry over from the playtest. While the PC version of the beta is listed as invite-only on Steam, it is available to anyone. Participating in it is thus as simple as navigating to the game's page on Valve's storefront and clicking the bright green "request access" button.

Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled to hit digital and physical store shelves on February 28, 2025. Seeing how MH World and MH Rise sold over 25 million and 15 million units, respectively, there's a plausible chance that the upcoming entry will mark another big commercial success for the Monster Hunter series.

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Monster Hunter Wilds
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Action
Adventure
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
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Released
February 28, 2025
ESRB
T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor
Developer(s)
Capcom
Publisher(s)
Capcom
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.

Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.

The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Engine
RE Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Franchise
Monster Hunter
PC Release Date
February 28, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
February 28, 2025
PS5 Release Date
February 28, 2025
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure