Monster Hunter Wilds Devs Speak On Series’ Handheld Roots

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Summary

  • Monster Hunter Wilds is nearly here, and when it launches, players will be able to connect with each other regardless of platform.
  • The Monster Hunter team believes its work on the PSP and 3DS has helped it prepare for the current expectations of players.
  • While console online play wasn’t nearly as sophisticated, the PSP and Nintendo 3DS offered a unique approach that has since been replicated.

13 days from now, enthusiasts of Monster Hunter will set off on a fresh adventure with Monster Hunter Rise, debuting on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC on February 28th. Right now, fans are in the midst of the second stage of the Open Beta, which has been prolonged due to issues with the PlayStation Network.

With the debut of Wilds, it will be the initial instance where a primary Monster Hunter series game launches simultaneously on PC. Previously, there was a delay of several months between the console and PC versions of World. Moreover, crossplay has been affirmed to be available from day one, enabling players across all platforms to hunt monsters together.

While it may seem quite challenging, this plan is something Capcom has anticipated given the origins of Monster Hunter on portable gaming devices.

The PSP and 3DS Were Monster Hunter Machines

In an interview with Games Radar, as mentioned in a subsequent article by PC Gamer, Monster Hunter Wilds’ producer Ryozo Tsujimoto shared insights about their team’s history with online infrastructure. This includes their initial attempts on the PS2 and how these experiences have benefited them over the years.

When playing Monster Hunter online on PS2, it wasn’t straightforward because players needed more than just an active internet connection; they also required a network adapter. This means that having a reliable broadband connection and equipment to connect the console to the internet was not always accessible for most consumers back then.

Ultimately, the series transitioned to PlayStation and Nintendo’s portable systems, a move that enabled the team to realize their dream of providing an online gaming experience. These versions paved the way for the team to get ready for a time when gamers could effortlessly interact with each other.

Tsujimoto stated, “Our efforts in adapting the game for portable devices with local networks actually turned out to be quite beneficial. As the infrastructure improved over time, our initial adjustments proved useful in designing later online games. So, it wasn’t a misguided detour but rather an adaptive strategy that addressed the limitations of the infrastructure at each stage.

Today, the concept of not being able to smoothly interact with another player for a joint hunting experience feels almost unrealistic. However, due to portable games, this interactive element has become a fundamental feature.

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2025-02-16 04:07