FFXIV, Witcher 3 Collabs Inspire Monster Hunter Wilds - IGN

Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a host of exciting changes, new features, and quality-of-life enhancements to the beloved Monster Hunter series. Interestingly, the seeds for these innovations were planted during the crossover events of Monster Hunter: World. The collaboration with Final Fantasy XIV and The Witcher 3 played pivotal roles in shaping the new gameplay elements of Monster Hunter Wilds.

During the collaboration with Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, the director of FFXIV, suggested an innovative change to Monster Hunter Wilds' heads-up display (HUD). Inspired by a conversation with Yoshi-P at a reveal event, Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda incorporated a feature where attack names appear on screen as players execute them. This concept was initially tested during the 2018 FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World, which included unique elements like catchable Cactuars and a challenging Behemoth fight. The event also featured the Jump emote, inspired by the Dragoon's movements in Final Fantasy, where the text "\[Hunter\] performs Jump" would appear on screen.

How Final Fantasy XIV's Director Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

The FFXIV collaboration in Monster Hunter: World was a massive hit, featuring unique elements like the Drachen armor set, Gae Bolg Insect Glaive, and Dragon Soul Kinsect. The Behemoth fight in particular showcased text-based attack indicators, similar to those found in many MMORPGs, which directly influenced the HUD design in Monster Hunter Wilds.

How The Witcher 3 Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

The influence of The Witcher 3 on Monster Hunter Wilds came from the positive reception to the crossover event in Monster Hunter: World. Players embraced the opportunity to play as Geralt of Rivia, complete with dialogue options and interactions, which contrasted with the traditionally silent protagonist of Monster Hunter games. This feedback inspired Monster Hunter Wilds to include a speaking protagonist with more dialogue options, allowing for deeper engagement with NPCs.

Yuya Tokuda mentioned that while Monster Hunter Wilds was not in active development during the World collaborations, the team was already considering future enhancements. Tokuda's proactive approach led to the successful inclusion of The Witcher 3 collaboration, which served as a testing ground for the new dialogue features in Monster Hunter Wilds.

These insights were gathered during an exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices as part of IGN First. For more details, don't miss the full hands-on preview, in-depth interviews, and exclusive gameplay footage from Monster Hunter Wilds:

• Behind Monster Hunter Wilds' New Approach to Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear
• Monster Hunter Wilds Interview and Gameplay: Meet Nu Udra, Apex of the Oilwell Basin
• Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit
• Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay