Monster Hunter Wilds Is Becoming Capcom’s Ultimate Live-Service Experience

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Monster Hunter Wilds has been around for a month now, and fans are already eagerly anticipating upcoming enhancements. Fortunately, Capcom has a planned route, beginning with Title Update 1 that rolled out the Grand Hub, extra monsters to track down, and Arena Challenges. The forthcoming Summer Update will also feature the formidable new siege fight, Lord of the Seas (Lagiacrus).

I’m quite pleased with how Capcom has been handling long-term updates for Monster Hunter World, but I hope they’ll take it a step further in the coming years. Given that it’s their best-selling game ever, it seems fitting that they capitalize on its live-service capabilities more significantly. Admittedly, I can’t see what Capcom is up to behind closed doors, but I have faith that they’re moving towards this goal already.

It’s Already Happening

Despite some saying Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t fit the conventional live-service game mold, it clearly is transitioning into this format. This is evident through its seasonal updates, special event quests, and minor aesthetic enhancements, similar to Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne. Now, with Title Update 1, Wilds is aligning itself with these trends.

Capcom has initiated a continuous flow of content, with the Grand Hub and new creatures Mizutsune and Zoh Shia introduced on April 4th kicking things off in April. Arch-Tempered Rey Dau followed later in the month. This consistent release pattern ensures players remain hooked and revisit the game frequently. Thankfully, no gacha mechanics are present—otherwise, we’d find ourselves trying to obtain high-rank S weapons and armor.

It Could Evolve Into an MMO

A possible rephrasing of your statement in a more natural and easy-to-read manner: One idea for the Monster Hunter series could be to fully embrace multiplayer and introduce MMO-like elements. The Grand Hub and the five main bases scattered across the game’s environments offer a starting point, as players can explore, display their customized gear and outfits, and socialize. However, these features currently seem somewhat restrictive. The chat interface is cumbersome, and excessive notifications disrupt the overall experience. I don’t need to see Chatacabra causing havoc at my camp for the thousandth time, Capcom.

As we may encounter more Raid Bosses or Sieges akin to Alatreon and Fatalis from Iceborne, we can expect an increase in large-scale cooperative content in Wilds. The game is gradually transitioning towards MMO-like features, with the upcoming Lagiacrus hunt being a step in that direction. I’m excited to see where it goes in the coming months.

Never-Ending Support

Capcom can seize an adventurous move: instead of ending support for Monster Hunter World, they could choose to extend it indefinitely. There’s no reason to stop with the final DLC expansion. Rather than creating a new game, they could further develop and enhance Monster Hunter World by introducing larger-scale expansions beyond the initial one, leveraging the robust foundation that is already in place.

If Capcom were to extend the Monster Hunter series beyond Sunbreak for World and Iceborne, they could elevate the High Rank (HR) and Master Rank (MR) limits, introduce new tiers above G-Rank, and unleash even more formidable monsters and challenges. The possibilities are vast, and such an expansion could lead to truly revolutionary changes in the game.

While it’s just a dream for now, I truly wish Capcom recognizes the potential of a genuine live-service Monster Hunter game. As far as I’m concerned, I’d gladly join in, provided that microtransactions continue to be purely cosmetic – just like they are at present.

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2025-03-27 16:42