Monster Hunter: World is coming to PS4 and Xbox One tomorrow, 26 January 2018, with confirmation that the PC variant will be released in autumn 2018. Here’s what you need to know about the gameplay, platforms, launch date and pricing.
It was during E3 2017 in June that we first laid eyes on Monster Hunter: World, a new addition to the hugely popular Capcom franchise that is set to grace the PS4, Xbox One and PC in January 2018. It’s the first time it’s set to come out on consoles, following a long history of releases for handheld consoles like the 3DS and PSP.
Understandably, Monster Hunter fans are extremely excited about the game, and we can see why. The power of PS4 and Xbox One means that the game can be taken to a whole new level of awesome.
But we’ll still see all of the familiar gameplay elements that we know and love in Monster Hunter: World, including all fourteen weapons from Monster Hunter Generations, four-player co-op and even the little BBQ Spit for cooking meat.
Read on to find out more about the gameplay, watch videos of it in action and discover everything there is to know so far about Monster Hunter: World. We’ve taken a more in-depth look at the game in our Monster Hunter: World review if you want to check that out.
For more of the most exciting games coming soon, visit: Best upcoming games 2018 .
When Capcom first took to the stage to announce Monster Hunter World, we didn’t let ourselves get too excited because, in the past, Monster Hunter games have generally come out in Japan several months ahead of the UK and US launch.
However, the company since revealed that it’ll be releasing the game worldwide on the same day. The exact date, as confirmed at the Tokyo Game Show, is tomorrow, 26 January 2018 for PS4 and Xbox One.
This is possible because, for the first time ever, players from Japan (where the game originates and is absolutely enormous in terms of popularity) will be able to play Monster Hunter with players from Western regions on the same servers.
In fact, Capcom has been working on Monster Hunter World behind the scenes for three years.
If you’re planning on playing Monster Hunter World on PC, Capcom says that it is coming in 2018, but it will arrive a few months after the PS4 and Xbox One versions. This was confirmed by producer Ryozo Tsujimoto in a brief video posted to Twitter. He confirmed that the team is working towards an Autumn 2018 release on PC.
He has since explained to GamesRadar that the delay is due to extra time needed to make sure the PC version is as good as possible. « Hopefully PC users won’t mind waiting a little longer for us to bring you a really great optimised PC experience. » he said.
You can pick up Monster Hunter World right now from Amazon or GAME for the best price possible, but chances are you’ll be waiting a day or two for it to be delivered – and no die-hard MH fan wants to wait that long post-release.
So, what else can you do? Thankfully, if you pick up a copy of the game on the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store, you can pre-load the game right now. Then, when midnight comes around, you’ll be able to access the game straight away and be amongst the first in the world to play the latest game.
So what will playing Monster Hunter World be like and how will it differ from previous Monster Hunter games?
We’ve had some really in-depth looks at the gameplay thanks to several streams and extended videos from Capcom, and of course, we’ve been playing the beta for some hands-on experience.
The first is gameplay trailer is shown above, and is a brilliant 23 minutes long, while the second is a Monster Hunter: World Ancient Forest Gameplay video that you can watch below.
Then, during Gamescom 2017, Capcom and IGN teamed up for a further 23-minute gameplay demonstration.
We were treated to yet another video at the Tokyo Game Show:
And again at Paris Games Week 2017:
To us, it looks like the Monster Hunter we’re familiar with but with additional power that has never been achievable before.
For a start, the monsters themselves are more intelligent and have a powerful AI that means they can fight against each other and eat each other like they would in a real food chain. Players can use this to their advantage, so tactical gameplay will be more important than ever.
The maps are huge, and unlike the current Monster Hunter games, there will be no loading screens within them. Instead, you’ll be able to move freely around each map to gather, hunt and collaborate with other hunters, and these maps will even have a day and night cycle that will change the way some monsters behave.
Plus, some of the environment will be destructible. Break down walls to make new paths, flood monsters out of particular areas or use trees to pin down monsters for a short time.
The downside to these improved maps is that escape is much more difficult if you find yourself in a tricky situation. You won’t be able to run into the next area to heal or sharpen your weapon mid-fight. The good news is that you won’t have to stop and stand still while you eat or drink. Instead, you can heal while you’re on the move.
If you’ve embarked on a quest alone but run into a monster that’s more ferocious than you had anticipated, you can even fire up a flare to invite additional hunters to join you no matter where you are in the quest. Alternatively, you can team up with up to four friends or other hunters online in the Guild Hall before you embark.
Also new are stealth elements to the gameplay, again making hunts more tactical than before. You can throw rocks to distract monsters, or hide within tall grass. There are even camouflage items that you can wear to sneak up on them and mount them.
In order to throw rocks, you’ll need to use the new Slinger, which can also be used to reach higher places and pull down rock formations.
That’s after you’ve found them, of course, which is also different in Monster Hunter Worlds. You’ll be able to track monsters down by examining footprints, mucus and more, after which you’ll be helped out by Scout flies which will lead you right to the monster itself.
Attacking the monster will produce damage numbers with every hit, so you can determine which weapons work best and where to hit for maximum damage. We’re glad that there is no health bar for the monsters though, because part of the fun is not knowing how close it is to death.
If you decide that the weapon you’re using isn’t working particularly well on the monster you’re hunting, you’ll be able to quick travel back to base camp to swap it out, but only when you are not in combat.
Gathering items seems to have changed for the better, too. Instead of the slow process of picking things up, you’ll now be able to quickly grab them, even if you’re running.
There are some gameplay elements missing from Monster Hunter World, though. Prowler Mode, which was introduced in Monster Hunter Generations and let you run around as your trusty feline companion, doesn’t seem to be part of the new game. You will still be able to bring a Palico with you on solo quests, though.
And even Hunting Arts, which also emerged as part of Monster Hunter Generations, have been discontinued.
As mentioned, you’ll be able to team up with up to four other players, but there is a single-player mode available both online and offline too.
