Monster Hunter Wilds brings a host of exciting changes, new features, and quality-of-life improvements to the beloved Monster Hunter series. Interestingly, the seeds for these innovations were planted during the crossover events of Monster Hunter World, influenced by collaborations with Final Fantasy 14 and The Witcher 3. Specifically, insights from Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, during the FFXIV crossover, and the positive reception to The Witcher 3 crossover, directly shaped new gameplay elements in Monster Hunter Wilds.
During the FFXIV crossover collaboration, conversations with Naoki Yoshida, affectionately known as Yoshi-P, inspired a significant change to Monster Hunter Wilds' heads-up display (HUD). Yoshi-P suggested that players enjoy seeing the names of their attacks displayed on screen as they execute them. This feedback led to the introduction of on-screen attack names in Monster Hunter Wilds, a feature previewed during the 2018 FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World. This event was notable for its inclusion of unique elements like catchable Cactuars, a giant Kulu-Ya-Ku with a crystal, and the challenging Behemoth fight, where attack names were displayed, mimicking the style common in MMORPGs. Additionally, after defeating Behemoth, players could unlock the Jump emote, which, when used, displayed the text "[Hunter] performs Jump," offering a glimpse of this new feature.
The influence of The Witcher 3 crossover on Monster Hunter Wilds was equally significant. The positive response to the crossover, where players controlled Geralt of Rivia and engaged in dialogue, led to the inclusion of more dialogue options and a speaking protagonist in Monster Hunter Wilds. Yuya Tokuda, the director of Monster Hunter Wilds, was inspired by the success of the Witcher 3 collaboration in Monster Hunter: World, which he viewed as a test to gauge player reactions to more interactive elements. In Monster Hunter Wilds, players can now engage in conversations with NPCs, much like Geralt, enhancing the game's narrative depth and player engagement.
How Final Fantasy XIV’s Director Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds
During the collaboration on the Monster Hunter: World and FFXIV crossover, Yoshi-P shared with Yuya Tokuda the idea that players appreciate seeing the names of their attacks on screen. This insight directly led to the development of the new HUD feature in Monster Hunter Wilds, as depicted in the image above. The 2018 FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World showcased this feature with the Behemoth fight, where attack names were displayed on screen, providing players with a taste of what was to come in Monster Hunter Wilds.
After defeating Behemoth, players could unlock the Jump emote, inspired by the Dragoon's movements in Final Fantasy, which displayed the text "[Hunter] performs Jump" when used. This was a precursor to the new attack name feature in Monster Hunter Wilds.
How The Witcher 3 Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds
Yuya Tokuda was impressed by the comparisons drawn between Monster Hunter Wilds' new dialogue options and gameplay elements to The Witcher 3. The successful Monster Hunter: World Witcher 3 collaboration served as a testing ground for introducing more dialogue and interactive elements into the Monster Hunter series. In this crossover, players took on the role of Geralt of Rivia, engaging in conversations with other characters and making dialogue choices, a departure from the traditionally silent protagonist of Monster Hunter games.
This approach has been carried forward into Monster Hunter Wilds, where players can engage in dialogue with NPCs, enhancing the game's narrative depth. Tokuda's foresight during the development of World's collaborations, particularly his initiative to include a Witcher 3 crossover, laid the groundwork for these enhancements in Monster Hunter Wilds.
These insights were shared during our exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices as part of this month's IGN First, where we delved deeper into Monster Hunter Wilds' development and gameplay features. Don't miss the full hands-on preview, new in-depth interviews, and exclusive gameplay from January's Monster Hunter Wilds IGN First.
