Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Collaboration

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous improvements and new features, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter World. Specifically, collaborations with Final Fantasy XIV and The Witcher 3 significantly influenced Wilds' design.

Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, suggested a key HUD enhancement during the FFXIV crossover: displaying attack names on-screen in real-time. This feature, initially glimpsed in the Behemoth fight (which also included the memorable Jump emote), found its full realization in Wilds.

The positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover, featuring a speaking protagonist and dialogue choices, directly led to the inclusion of similar elements in Wilds. This was essentially a successful test run, gauging player reception to a more narrative-focused approach.

The Witcher 3's impact is evident in Wilds' enhanced dialogue system and the voiced protagonist, a stark contrast to previous entries.

While Wilds wasn't in active development during these crossovers, director Yuya Tokuda was already envisioning future iterations. His proactive collaboration with CD Projekt Red for the Witcher 3 crossover proved instrumental in shaping Wilds' direction.

This insightful information comes from an exclusive IGN First visit to Capcom's Japanese offices. For a comprehensive preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, including in-depth interviews and gameplay footage, explore January's IGN First coverage:

• 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