Capcom celebrated its 40th anniversary by shelling out the big bucks for the grand finale in the world premiere extravaganza that was this year’s Game Awards, debuting Monster Hunter Wilds to the world. The new trailer offers a 90-second glimpse into an open but perilous world.
After the trailer debuted, host Geoff Keighley conducted a brief interview with Capcom producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and asked the first question fans everywhere were asking: When? Tsujimoto stuck to the trailer and simply said it was coming “in 2025″ without divulging more information on when we’ll get to rise and grind. Keighley further teased a “Summer 2024″ commitment from Tsujimoto on when we’ll hear more about the game. (Any guesses as to which show hosted by a Canadian journalist with a penchant for Muppets and celebrity guests might get that honor?)
The trailer does give us a glimpse at the gameplay, and some interesting mechanics at work that will raise larger questions. We see a hunter riding furiously into a herd of armored creatures, presumably to get them to attack the lumbering beasts that are giving chase through the desert. A massive sandstorm follows, complete with lightning and quick cuts showing a monster melee whirling at the center. Whether this is just for show or a viable strategy while out hunting remains to be seen.
Signs point to Monster Hunter Wilds being an open-world title, but what will that mean? The trailer had a distinct lack of biomes, which would’ve been a strong visual for conveying a vast and varied map. Even if it’s all craggy desert peaks and dusty savannahs you can count on there being a dizzying amount of creatures and crafting worthy of a franchise that’s been going strong for 20 years.
