The developer of Palworld, Japanese studio Pocketpair, has generously given its staff the day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. This decision came after a series of "mysterious" notices from employees, who humorously claimed they would be "feeling unwell" on the game's release day, February 28. Pocketpair, understanding the excitement around the game, declared this day a sort of holiday for its team, ensuring fans that this would not impact updates on their own games.
Monster Hunter Wilds has made a remarkable debut, achieving 1 million concurrent players on Steam and securing a spot in the platform's top 10 most-played games of all time, surpassing titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite its success, the game has received a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has teased early details about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub for players.
The launch of Monster Hunter Wilds has had a significant global impact, especially in Japan, where its influence is particularly strong. One Japanese indie developer humorously noted on social media that they hadn't sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds was released. This isn't the first time Pocketpair has shown such support for gaming culture; they previously gave their staff a day off to play FromSoftware's Elden Ring in 2022.
To help you dive into Monster Hunter Wilds, we've compiled essential guides and resources. Check out what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn't tell you, a comprehensive guide to all 14 weapon types, and our ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough. For those interested in multiplayer, we have a detailed guide on how to play with friends. If you participated in one of the open betas, learn how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.
IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, praising the game for refining the series' mechanics in smart ways, resulting in enjoyable combat, though noting a lack of significant challenge.
