Monster Hunter Wilds

Story and setting

Monster Hunter Wilds takes place in the Forbidden Lands, an unexplored region where violent weather, scarce resources and sudden changes in the environment shape the lives of both people and monsters. A young boy named Nata is rescued near the border after fleeing the destruction of his village. His account of a mysterious creature known as the White Wraith prompts the Guild to establish an expedition into the region.

You play a customisable Hunter assigned to the Avis Unit, alongside the handler Alma, smithy Gemma and a Palico companion. Fabius, a distinguished former hunter and Guild leader, established the Forbidden Lands Research Commission and organised the expedition units. The story follows the team’s investigation into Nata’s people, the Keepers, the White Wraith and the uneasy relationship between the region’s inhabitants and its wildlife.

How it plays

The core loop is familiar Monster Hunter: choose a weapon, prepare for a hunt, track a target, exploit its weaknesses, then use the materials gained from the fight to craft better weapons and armour. Wilds places more emphasis on a changing ecosystem than earlier entries. The Forbidden Lands shift between Plenty, Fallow and Inclemency conditions, affecting the availability of wildlife and the way monsters behave. During harsh periods, monsters may gather in packs and hunt more aggressively.

The Seikret mount lets you travel across the large hunting locales, gather resources and use weapons while mounted. You can also cook away from camp, and Support Hunters can help fill an empty party when playing solo or online. The game supports single-player and online cooperative hunting for up to four people, with cross-play between its supported platforms. On Switch 2, Nintendo lists both local wireless and online play for one to four players.

Trailers and showcases

The December 2023 reveal established the game’s harsh frontier setting and 2025 release window. The 30 May 2024 State of Play trailer introduced the living-world concept, the Seikret and early footage of the Windward Plains. The 7 June Summer Game Fest trailer showed story scenes flowing directly into hunts, including Balahara, quicksand and the lightning-filled Sandtide. The 20 August Gamescom trailer introduced the Scarlet Forest, Lala Barina, Uth Duna and the ability to cook while exploring.

The 24 September 2024 State of Play confirmed the 28 February 2025 launch date and revealed Arkveld, the long-extinct monster at the centre of the mystery, alongside the Keepers and White Wraith. The 23 October showcase focused on the Oilwell Basin, Azuz and the Black Flame, while the February 2025 trailers introduced the Iceshard Cliffs, additional monsters and the final launch build. Since release, free updates have added further hunts and systems, including Gogmazios in Title Update 4 and Arch-tempered Arkveld in the February 2026 update. The September 2026 State of Play trailer was for the separate paid expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, not a new version of the base game.

Platforms, editions and UK price

The original release is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. The Nintendo Switch 2 version launches in the UK on Friday, 4 December 2026. Capcom has confirmed that Switch 2 will join the existing cross-play ecosystem, although the company has not yet published a full technical breakdown of the port.

Following Capcom’s permanent price reduction and bundle changes in August 2026, the UK digital stores list the Standard Edition at £34.99 and the Gold Edition at £64.99 on PS5 and Xbox. Gold includes the base game, the Cosmetic DLC Collection and a premium bonus. The former Deluxe Edition, Premium Deluxe Edition and Cosmetic DLC Pass were discontinued on 4 August 2026, although existing owners retain access. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online play on Switch 2; PS Plus is required on PS5, while Xbox console multiplayer requires Game Pass Core or Ultimate.

What we still don’t know

Capcom has not announced the UK price, physical release details, pre-order bonuses or launch time for the Switch 2 version. It has also not confirmed whether existing owners on other platforms will receive any form of cross-buy, cross-save or save transfer with Switch 2. Resolution, frame-rate targets and other technical details for the port remain unconfirmed.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is scheduled for 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Switch 2. It is a paid expansion requiring the base game, with new story content, locales, monsters, quest ranks and expanded weapon actions. Its price, release date and whether any Switch 2 bundle will include it have not been announced.

Should you pre-order?

If you want to play Wilds on Switch 2, there is a firm date but not yet enough information to judge the port’s performance or value. Waiting for the UK price, technical details and retailer listings is the sensible option. The base game is already available elsewhere, and the current Standard Edition is considerably cheaper than it was at launch, so there is no need to pre-order simply to access the existing content.