In a heartwarming move, the developer of Palworld, Japanese studio Pocketpair, has granted its employees a day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on its official release date, February 28. The decision came after a series of "mysterious" notifications from staff members, humorously claiming they would be "feeling unwell" on the game's launch day. Pocketpair, while acknowledging this fun gesture, reassured fans that updates for their own games would continue unaffected.

Monster Hunter Wilds has made a remarkable impact since its release, achieving a staggering 1 million concurrent players on Steam, which has propelled it into the top 10 most-played games of all time on the platform. This feat positions it ahead of popular titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite this 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 the community with early details of Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which promises to introduce an endgame social hub.

The global impact of Monster Hunter Wilds is evident, but it's particularly notable in Japan, where its influence has been so strong that one indie developer jokingly lamented on social media about not selling a single game on Steam since its release. This isn't the first time Pocketpair has shown such generosity; they previously gave their staff a day off to play FromSoftware's Elden Ring in 2022.

To help you dive into the world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we've compiled resources to enhance your gaming experience. Check out our guide on what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, an in-depth look at all 14 weapon types, a comprehensive walkthrough in progress, a multiplayer guide to enjoy the game with friends, and instructions on how to transfer your character from the open beta. IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, praising the game for smoothing out the series' rough edges and delivering fun fights, though noting a lack of real challenge.