Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Collaboration
Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous enhancements and new features, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter World. Specifically, insights from Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida ("Yoshi-P") and the positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover directly influenced key gameplay elements in Wilds.
Yoshi-P's suggestion during the FFXIV crossover – displaying attack names on screen in real-time – inspired a significant HUD change in Wilds. This was initially glimpsed in the 2018 FFXIV crossover, most notably during the Behemoth fight, where the boss's moves were displayed as text. The "Jump" emote, unlocked after defeating Behemoth, further exemplifies this, showing "[Hunter] performs Jump" on screen.
The overwhelmingly positive reception to the Witcher 3 crossover solidified the decision to incorporate more dialogue options and a voiced protagonist into Wilds. In the Witcher 3 crossover, players controlled Geralt, experiencing conversations and dialogue choices, a stark contrast to previous Monster Hunter titles' silent protagonists.
Director Yuya Tokuda acknowledged the Witcher 3's influence, stating that the crossover served as a successful test of player reception to enhanced dialogue and interaction. He actively sought the collaboration with CD Projekt Red, resulting in the inclusion of these features in Wilds.
This information comes from an exclusive IGN First visit to Capcom's Japan offices. For a comprehensive preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, including in-depth interviews and gameplay footage, check out January's IGN First coverage. Links to additional IGN First content are provided below.
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
