Monster Hunter Inspired by Collaborations with Final Fantasy and Witcher

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Crossovers

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 directly influenced key gameplay elements in Wilds.

Conversations between Yoshi-P (Final Fantasy XIV's director) and Yuya Tokuda (Monster Hunter Wilds' director) during the FFXIV crossover inspired a significant HUD change: the display of attack names in real-time. This feature, briefly glimpsed in the Behemoth fight during the 2018 FFXIV crossover in Monster Hunter: World, allows players to see their attack names onscreen as they perform them. The crossover also included memorable elements like catchable Cactuars, a Kulu-Ya-Ku hunt to Chocobo music, and the Drachen armor set.

The positive player response to the Behemoth fight, where attack names were displayed, directly informed the decision to implement this feature in Wilds' HUD. Further reinforcing this, the post-Behemoth "Jump" emote, accompanied by on-screen text, provided a precursor to this mechanic.

The Witcher 3 crossover similarly impacted Wilds' design. The overwhelmingly positive reception to the inclusion of dialogue and a speaking protagonist (Geralt) in the Monster Hunter: World crossover served as a proving ground. This led to the decision to incorporate more dialogue options and a voiced protagonist in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Director Tokuda's foresight, even before Wilds' active development, is evident in his proactive pursuit of the Witcher 3 collaboration. This collaboration, he believed, would provide valuable insight into player preferences, ultimately shaping Wilds' direction.

Explore more exclusive content, including gameplay and interviews, from our IGN First coverage of Monster Hunter Wilds:

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• Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit
• Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay