Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds’ Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds' Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

What you need to know

  • Capcom has revealed new information for its upcoming action-hunting game, Monster Hunter Wilds, during the Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase October 2024 stream broadcast.
  • The showcase reveals a new locale to explore, three new monsters to hunt, and an Open Beta Test for the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam versions of Monster Hunter Wilds that will begin on October 31, 2024, and end on November 3, 2024.
  • Monster Hunter Wilds will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam on February 28, 2025.

As a seasoned Monster Hunter veteran who’s traversed through countless labyrinthine landscapes and vanquished myriad beasts since the days of the original trilogy, I must say that the latest revelations from the Monster Hunter Wilds showcase have sent my adrenaline soaring like never before. The new monsters from the Oilwell Basin are a ghastly delight – the Rompopolo is as nauseating as a spoiled meal at a hunter’s feast, the Ajarakan is an intimidating adversary that promises to be a formidable dance partner in battle, and ‘The Black Flame’ is an otherworldly beastie that brings back fond memories of my encounters with Yama Tsukami and Nakarkos.


In just four months, Capcom’s eagerly awaited Monster Hunter Rampage, also known as Monster Hunter Wilds, will charge onto home gaming consoles and computers. To generate even more excitement for the newest installment of the Monster Hunter series, Capcom has planned a special event – a Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase stream video. This video offers tantalizing glimpses into new environments to discover, terrifying, dreamlike monsters to chase, and an Open Beta Test that gamers on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms can join.

Here’s all the details you need to know from this livestream broadcast.

The presentation kicks off by unveiling an exciting cinematic trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, taking us to a brand-new hunting destination known as the Oilwell Basin. This sprawling underground expanse is one of the game’s riskier locales due to its vast stretches of flammable oil-covered terrain.

Residents of the sole settlement in Oilwell Basin, known as Azuz the Everforge, rely on this oil for powering their forges and craft impressive weapons and armor, designed specifically for players. Additionally, the inhabitants of Azuz have utilized their blacksmithing abilities to construct eco-friendly traps across multiple Oilwell Basin locations, serving an environmental purpose while also potentially aiding players.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players should definitely consider using traps since the Oilwell Basin houses some of the scariest creatures. Today’s stream unveiled three such monstrous beasts.

Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds' Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

Initially comes the rounded Rompopolo, an unsightly Brute Wyvern known for its vicious attacks. Instead of using claws or bites, it emits a toxic gas from its mouth as a weapon. Moreover, it can pierce the ground with its tail and contaminate the soil, causing nearby oil rivers to explode into geysers, inflicting severe damage in the process.

Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds' Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

The second recently discovered creature, identified as the Ajarakan, is a fiery Fanged Beast renowned for its quick temper. This monkey-like brute is a formidable fighter, often striking out at its victims with powerful punches, and bolstering its strength by immersing itself in molten rock to deliver fire-infused attacks.

Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds' Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

In this showcase, the last unveiled beast is a colossal Octopus-like entity yet to be named by the villagers of Azuz, who call it ‘The Black Flame’. This monstrosity, with its tentacles, is completely smeared in oil and is so massive that even the giant Ajarakan structures appear diminutive beside it. With ease, this beast could pick up an Ajarakan as effortlessly as a child clutching a toy.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, ‘The Black Flame’ is a formidable adversary that attacks players by wrapping them up with its tentacles and scorching them with fiery breath attacks. Given its strength, defeating this monster will be no easy task, so it’s advisable to equip yourself with fire-resistant armor if you choose to hunt ‘The Black Flame’.

Capcom reveals Monster Hunter Wilds' Open Beta Test date and its most terrifying monsters yet

The showcase doesn’t just introduce new monsters; it also saves the most exciting reveal for the end – an Open Beta Test! From October 31, 2024 (8:00pm Pacific Time), to November 3, 2024 (6:59pm Pacific Time, keeping in mind that this time adjusts for Daylight Savings Time), Capcom will conduct an Open Beta Test for Monster Hunter Wilds. This test will be accessible on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

If you’re a PlayStation Plus member on your PlayStation 5, you’ll enjoy exclusive Early Access to the Open Beta Test. This special access starts from October 28, 2024 at 8:00 PM Pacific Time, continuing until October 30, 2024 at 7:59 PM Pacific Time.

During the Open Beta Test, you’ll have the opportunity to create your own Hunter and Palico ally, whose looks can be saved for use in the final version of the game. The initial story mission will guide you through the game environment while teaching you about the combat system. Additionally, there will be a hunting quest where you’ll need to take down a Doshaguma.

In Doshaguma hunting, you have three options: going solo, teaming up with NPC hunters, or joining other online players. This Open Beta Test offers cross-platform compatibility, allowing console and PC users to hunt together. Participating in this test will earn you a special, downloadable cosmetic teddy bear pendant as a reward, which can be attached to your weapons or your Seikret mount in the final game.

My excitement for Monster Hunter Wilds has now reached critical mass

Among all the fresh monsters unveiled in Monster Hunter Wilds, the ones hailing from the Oilwell Basin undoubtedly top my list. The Rompopolo is downright unsettling, the Ajarakan appears both menacing and enjoyable to battle, while ‘The Black Flame’ is a bizarre creature of nature that reminds me fondly of Monster Hunter’s unique Octopus/Squid-like monsters like Yama Tsukami from Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and Nakarkos from Monster Hunter Generations.

Additionally, I’ll get a head start on playing Monster Hunter Wilds as the Open Beta Test is approaching soon, allowing me to experience firsthand what sparked my colleague, Jez Cordon’s enthusiasm when he previewed Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest 2024.

Excited about Monster Hunter Wilds since its initial announcement, the latest details from today’s showcase have only heightened my eagerness for the game. I can hardly contain my excitement to discover more secrets this game holds when it officially releases on February 28, 2025.

In February 2025, the highly anticipated sequel to one of Capcom’s top-tier Xbox and PC games, Monster Hunter World, titled Monster Hunter Wilds, is set for release on the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam.

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2024-10-23 19:39