How World's FFXIV and The Witcher 3 Collabs Inspired Monster Hunter Wilds - IGN First

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. The collaboration with Final Fantasy 14 and The Witcher 3 played pivotal roles in shaping Monster Hunter Wilds' gameplay elements, thanks to insights and player feedback from these events.

During the Monster Hunter: World and FFXIV crossover, Naoki Yoshida, the director of Final Fantasy 14, shared valuable feedback with Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda. Yoshida's suggestion to display attack names on screen as they are performed inspired a significant change to the heads-up display (HUD) in Monster Hunter Wilds. This feature was first hinted at during the 2018 FFXIV crossover event, where players could see Behemoth's moves in text during battles, and even the Jump emote's text prompt, "[Hunter] performs Jump." This innovative HUD change enhances player engagement by providing real-time feedback on their actions.

The crossover with The Witcher 3 also left a lasting impact on Monster Hunter Wilds. The positive reception to the event, where players controlled Geralt of Rivia and experienced dialogue options and a speaking protagonist, influenced the inclusion of similar elements in Wilds. Director Yuya Tokuda was inspired by the success of this crossover and saw it as a test for incorporating more dialogue and interactive elements into the next Monster Hunter game. In Monster Hunter Wilds, players now engage in conversations with NPCs, much like Geralt, adding depth and immersion to the gameplay experience.

Although Monster Hunter Wilds was not in active development during the release of Monster Hunter World's collaborations, Tokuda was already contemplating future possibilities. He specifically sought out the collaboration with The Witcher 3, which proved to be a success and a valuable learning experience for the team.

These insights were shared during an exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices as part of IGN First, offering a glimpse into the development process and the inspirations behind Monster Hunter Wilds. Stay tuned for more in-depth interviews, exclusive gameplay, and a final hands-on preview of Monster Hunter Wilds.

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