← all stories
Monster Hunter Wilds
A free early-game demo for the Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds is out now, offline-only with local multiplayer and save carryover. The full Switch 2 release is set for December 4, 2026, and the Ascendance expansion is scheduled for 2027.
Synthesized from 22
Yomimono stories · updated
1d ago
The center of gravity for Monster Hunter Wilds has moved to two releases. A Nintendo Switch 2 version arrives December 4, 2026 with all previously released title updates included, local wireless multiplayer, and a rating for ages 15 and up. Capcom also announced a domestic-only bundle pairing the console with a downloadable copy and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership voucher, released the same day. A free early-game demo for the Switch 2 version arrived October 20, covering character creation, the prologue, and Chapter 1-3 "Into the Forest," with all 14 weapon types, Focus Mode, and Focus Strike. It is offline-only, so online features and Photo Mode are absent, but up to four players can hunt together by local communication. Save data and option settings carry over to the full game, which is 4,990 yen for the standard edition.
The Ascendance expansion is scheduled for 2027. The first trailer, shown during Sony's State of Play on September 3, introduced the new Elder Dragon Gundoraja, which controls thunderclouds, and showed returning monsters Lao Shan Lung and Kushala Daora. A new field, the Kumoi Ruins, uses Seikret gliding and updrafts, and Boost Drivers activate Boost attacks that strengthen certain actions and open new combos. Teostra returns as a hunt in the Tokyo Game Show 2026 demo, alongside a quest against the new monster Araketa and a beginner quest against Chatacabra. Ascendance adds Master Rank, and access requires the base game and the cleared Chapter 6-1 quest "Awakening from a Dream."
A free Refine Update ships alongside Ascendance and applies to players who do not buy the expansion. It adds faster weapon swapping without mounting the Seikret, equipment changes at item boxes outside tents, a Hunter My Set feature, free and unlimited character re-editing, visible monster hitzone numbers, and HUD options. Earlier, Capcom cut the standard edition to 4,990 yen on August 4 and discontinued the Deluxe Edition, Premium Deluxe Edition, and Cosmetic DLC Pass in favor of three new sets. An August 5 early-game demo supported save transfer on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. On PC, concurrent players more than doubled to 38,163 within two days of the Ascendance announcement at Summer Game Fest 2026.
Key facts
- Switch 2 release date
- December 4, 2026, with all previously released title updates included ↗
- Switch 2 demo content
- Covers character creation, the prologue, and Chapter 1-3 "Into the Forest," with all 14 weapon types ↗
- Switch 2 demo limitations
- Offline-only; online features and Photo Mode absent, but up to four players via local communication ↗
- Standard edition price
- 4,990 yen (tax included) ↗
- Expansion release window
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance scheduled for 2027 ↗
- Expansion platforms
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC ↗
- Expansion access requirement
- Owning the base game and clearing the Chapter 6-1 quest "Awakening from a Dream" ↗
- New Elder Dragon
- Gundoraja, which controls thunderclouds, revealed in the September 3 trailer ↗
- Refine Update scope
- Free update shipping alongside Ascendance; changes apply to players who do not buy the expansion ↗
- PC concurrent players
- More than doubled to 38,163 within two days of the Ascendance announcement ↗
Timeline
- Oct 20, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 Demo Launches With Local Play
- Oct 15, 2026 Switch 2 Monster Hunter Wilds Demo Lands October 20
- Oct 3, 2026 Sony Sets PlayStation Festival For Osaka On October 24
- Sep 19, 2026 CAPCOM Demos Apha Araketa Hunt For Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance At Tokyo Game Show
- Sep 18, 2026 Capcom Opens Applications for Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 Hands-On
- Sep 17, 2026 Capcom Details Refine Update For Monster Hunter Wilds Alongside Ascendance
- Sep 16, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Adds Teostra As Playable TGS2026 Quest
- Sep 15, 2026 Epic Games Sets Unreal Fest Tokyo 2026 Keynote With Tim Sweeney
- Sep 14, 2026 Danganronpa 2x2 PC Specs Were Set for 4K, Producer Says
- Sep 10, 2026 Capcom Adds Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 and Resident Evil Remakes to TGS2026 Lineup
- Sep 9, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 Version Sets December 4 Release
- Sep 3, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Trailer Names New Elder Dragon Gundoraja
- Sep 1, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Gets World-First Playable at TGS 2026
- Aug 21, 2026 30 Minutes Fantasy Teams With Monster Hunter Wilds, Reveals Rathalos and Arkveld Kits
- Aug 5, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Gets Early-Game Demo With Save Transfer
- Jul 14, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Price Revised, Editions Discontinued Before Ascendance
- Jul 8, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Now Rated Playable on Steam Deck
- Jun 10, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance Steam Page Opens With Wishlist Registrations
- Jun 8, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance DLC Doubles PC Concurrent Players
- Jun 7, 2026 Inside Picks 8 Unmissable Games for 2027
- Jun 7, 2026 Automaton's Weekly Roundup: Ace Combat 8 Release Date, Monster Hunter Wilds DLC, and More
- Jun 5, 2026 Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance Expansion Announced for 2027
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · 2026-10-20 · Switch 2 · 2026-10-20
- Release
- game · December 4, 2026 · 2026-10-20
- Release
- game · October 20 · Switch 2 · 2026-10-15
- Release
- game · December 4 · Switch 2 · 2026-10-15
- Release
- game · December 4, 2026 · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2026-09-18
- Release
- game · out now · PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S · 2026-09-16
- Release
- game · December 4 · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2026-09-16
- Release
- game · 2027 · 2026-06-07
- Release
- game · 2026-12-04 · Nintendo Switch 2 · 2026-09-10
- Release
- game · December 4, 2026 · 2026-09-09
- Release
- game · 2026-08-05 · PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam · 2026-08-05
- Release
- game · 2026-06-08 · PC · 2026-06-08
- Announced
- Nintendo Switch 2 version dated December 4, 2026 (Tokyo Game Show 2026) · 2026-09-18
- Announced
- will receive a free Refine Update (September 16 announcement) · 2026-09-17
- Announced
- free update alongside the 2027 expansion Ascendance (September 16 announcement) · 2026-09-16
- Announced
- early-game demo with save transfer · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- Ver.1.042 update · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- limited-time event quest 'Pupropolu Isn't Crying' becomes permanent · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- all 26 currently available event quests and challenge quests can be played offline · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- quest counter adjustment so available quests appear at the top · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- several other bug fixes · 2026-08-05
- Announced
- demo content and length not yet detailed · 2026-08-05
- Noted
- Ascendance is the expansion continuing after Wilds, set for 2027 · 2026-09-18
- Noted
- playable demo with two quests: a beginner-oriented hunt for Kematris and a veteran-oriented hunt for Lagiacrus · 2026-09-10
- Noted
- standard edition price drop to 4,990 yen · 2026-07-14
- Noted
- discontinuation of Deluxe Edition, Premium Deluxe Edition, and Cosmetic DLC Pass · 2026-07-14
- Noted
- introduction of Gold Edition, Cosmetic DLC Collection, and Extra Cosmetic DLC Pack · 2026-07-14
- Noted
- available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam · 2026-07-14
- Noted
- Monster Hunter Wilds is currently on sale for the same three platforms. · 2026-08-05
- Noted
- Monster Hunter Wilds Now Rated Playable on Steam Deck · 2026-07-08
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/monster-hunter-wilds.
CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about Monster Hunter Wilds was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed game December 4 Switch 2 6d ago · source
- Disputed game December 4 Switch 2 Oct 15 · source
- Debunked game October 20 Switch 2 Oct 15 · source
- Confirmed game December 4, 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 Sep 20 · source
- Confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 version dated December 4, 2026 Sep 20 · source
- Confirmed free update alongside the 2027 expansion Ascendance Sep 20 · source
All coverage
4d ago
Capcom released a free early-game demo for the Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds on October 20, 2026. The demo covers character creation, the prologue, and Chapter 1-3 "Into the Forest," and lets players hunt Chatacabra and Quematrice with all 14 weapon types, including Focus Mode and Focus Strike. It is offline-only, so online features and Photo Mode are absent, but up to four players can play together via local communication if each brings a Switch 2 with the demo installed. An SOS flare summons the NPC Support Hunter during quests. Save data and option settings carry over to the full game, which releases December 4, 2026, at 4,990 yen for the standard edition. The full game includes update content such as Mizutsune, Gogmazios, and the Final Fantasy XIV collaboration monster Omega Planetes.
Oct 15
Capcom will release an early-game demo for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds on October 20. The demo covers the same early content as the full game, from character creation through the opening story, and save data carries over. It supports local wireless multiplayer on Switch 2 but not online play. The full Switch 2 release is set for December 4.
Oct 3
Sony Interactive Entertainment will hold PlayStation Festival on October 24 at Grand Front Osaka North Building 1F Knowledge Plaza, running from 11:00 to 19:00. Attendees can play PS5 titles that appeared at the PlayStation booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September. Advance trial reservations opened October 2 for PlayStation Plus subscribers and close October 21 at 23:59, handled first-come, first-served through the event's special site. The reservable titles are Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance from Capcom, Final Fantasy VII Revelation from Square Enix, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE from Bandai Namco Entertainment, and GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT from Bandai Namco Entertainment. The day also includes a PLAY! PLAY! PLAY! special stream, sales of PlayStation goods with limited-quantity Astro Bot items, hands-on time with the PlayStation Portal Remote Player, and novelty giveaways tied to trying a game, posting at the venue, or adding the official PlayStation LINE account.
Sep 19
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, CAPCOM demoed Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, an expansion for Monster Hunter Wilds. The demo hunt pits players against Apha Araketa, classified as one monster but made up of three individuals that fight as a unit. A brighter, larger main Apha Araketa is the target, and the writer says the fight turns on pattern recognition, timing, and resource management.
Sep 18
Capcom began accepting applications on September 19 for a hands-on event for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds, limited to subscribers of the series email newsletter Monhan-bu. The Tokyo venue at the Capcom Tokyo Branch hosts on October 10 and 11, with applications closing at 13:00 on September 28. The Osaka venue at the Capcom Head Office runs October 17 and 18, with applications closing at 13:00 on October 5. Attendees can play four-player multiplayer over local communication, join a Hunter Card Exchange Meetup, and take part in a Team Competition Trial Quest Challenge. Commemorative items for participants include a Hunter Self-Introduction Card, a sticker, a microfiber handkerchief, and an original rubber keychain. The winning team in the quest challenge receives an original T-shirt. A trial version of the game is scheduled for release at a later date.
Sep 17
Capcom announced on September 16 that Monster Hunter Wilds will receive a free Refine Update alongside the 2027 release of the Ascendance expansion, and that the changes apply to players who do not buy the expansion. The update adds faster weapon swapping, letting hunters switch between two weapon types without mounting the Seikret, and equipment changes at item boxes outside tents. A new Hunter My Set feature registers item sets, equipment sets, and equipment appearance sets so they can be recalled together. Paid Grooming Tickets are abolished, making character re-editing free and unlimited. Monster hitzones become visible as numbers in the monster encyclopedia, and HUD options let players move the clock, restyle health and stamina gauges, and change the item box's display method. Capcom said more refinements are planned. Ascendance adds Master Rank, a sky setting, Boost Drivers, and the Elder Dragons Kushala Daora, Teostra, Lao-Shan Lung, and Gundoraja.
Sep 16
Capcom revealed during the September 16 Capcom Spotlight stream for Tokyo Game Show 2026 that the Elder Dragon Teostra returns in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, the super-large expansion for Monster Hunter Wilds. Teostra is the returning Elder Dragon huntable in the TGS2026 demo, joining a quest against the new monster Araketa and a beginner quest against Chatacabra. The demo runs at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. A pre-show trial at Capcom let a four-person party take on both hunts with the new Boost Bracelet, an arm-mounted piece of gear that charges a gauge and unlocks boosted actions per weapon type. Hands-on accounts describe Teostra's dust explosions, two-hit charge, flame breath, and Supernova still in place. Trial participants managed to slay Araketa, but were left short of meaningful damage against Teostra within the 20-minute quest limit. Ascendance is scheduled for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Sep 15
Epic Games Japan announced the keynote speakers and first sessions for Unreal Fest Tokyo 2026, set for November 3 and 4 at the TFT Building West Hall in Ariake, Tokyo. CEO Tim Sweeney and Epic Games Japan representative Takayuki Kawasaki will share the keynote, covering the Epic ecosystem, the company's vision, and the rollout of UE6. More than 30 sessions are planned. Participation is free.
Sep 14
Spike Chunsoft producer Shohei Sakakibara said on September 14 that the recommended PC requirements for Super Danganronpa 2x2 were written around 4K high-quality visuals and will be updated later. The listed specs, including an Intel Core i7-14700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and an RTX 4070 or RX 7700 XT with 32GB of memory, had drawn attention for being high for an adventure game. He also said the Switch version is being optimized.
Sep 10
Capcom published the second wave of its exhibitor information for Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds, set for release on December 4, 2026, joins the booth as a playable demo with two quests: a beginner-oriented hunt for Kematris and a veteran-oriented hunt for Lagiacrus. Demos run multiplayer only in handheld mode, with tickets distributed first come, first served. Three Resident Evil remake titles also join on Switch 2: Resident Evil RE:2 Z version Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil RE:3 Z version, and Resident Evil RE:4 Gold Edition, each playable from its opening story with novelties handed out in limited quantities. Capcom also detailed demo content for previously announced titles including Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Street Fighter 6, and set the Capcom Spotlight | TGS 2026 stream for September 16.
Sep 9
Capcom announced during the Nintendo Direct 2026.9.9 stream on September 9 that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds will launch on December 4. The Switch 2 edition includes all previously released title updates and supports local wireless multiplayer, allowing players to gather with their consoles for cooperative hunts. A bundle set, described as Japanese domestic only, pairs the Switch 2 console with a downloadable copy of the game and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership voucher, releasing the same day. Pre-orders open after the Direct broadcast ends. The software carries a rating for ages 15 and up. Separately, Capcom confirmed the large expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is scheduled for a 2027 release on Nintendo Switch 2. The announcements were part of a broader Nintendo Direct lineup that also included other titles for the platform.
Sep 3
CAPCOM revealed the first trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance during Sony's State of Play on September 3. The trailer introduces Gundoraja, a new Elder Dragon that controls thunderclouds, and shows returning monsters Lao Shan Lung and Kushala Daora. The expansion adds Boost Drivers, attacks that activate Boost, which temporarily strengthens certain actions and opens new combos, stronger guarding, and more. A new field, the Kumoi Ruins, uses Seikret gliding and updrafts for vertical exploration. A new bird wyvern, Araqueta, also appears. Tokyo Game Show demos at the PlayStation and Capcom booths will offer a hunt quest against Araqueta. The expansion launches in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. According to PlayStation.Blog, the story takes place several years after the base game's ending. Nata, who was a child in Monster Hunter Wilds, has grown into a young man working with the survey team and aiming to become a hunter, accompanied by his partner Moriba Sakigake.
Sep 1
Capcom released the first batch of its Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth lineup on September 1, with Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance headlining as the world's first playable exhibit of the expansion. The trial offers three quests: a new monster hunt set in the floating ruins field, a revived elder dragon hunt, and a Chatacabra hunt that doubles as a tutorial for players new to Monster Hunter Wilds. The new Boost Bracer action is usable across all three quests. The revived elder dragon's identity is being withheld until the Capcom Spotlight | TGS 2026 stream on September 16 at 23:00 JST. Playable slots require numbered tickets distributed first-come, first-served near the Ascendance corner of the booth. The same announcement covers Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen and Mega Man: Dual Override, both getting their first playable exhibits in Japan, plus playable builds of Onimusha Way of the Sword, Pragmata, Street Fighter 6, and Monster Hunter Outlanders. Non-game attractions include Street Fighter: The Movie costumes and a Biohazard shooting range run with Tokyo Marui.
Aug 21
Bandai Spirits streamed the 15th 30 Minutes Label New Product Presentation on August 21, 2026, unveiling new 30 Minutes Fantasy kits. The lineup includes the Class Up Armor (Savage Hunter), the second Class V Dark Nebiru Ark Knight, the Necros Mephist starter set, and a general-purpose tetoron seal set. A collaboration with Monster Hunter Wilds brings Rathalos and Arkveld equipment into the 30MF format, with both sets scheduled for March 2027.
Aug 5
Capcom announced an early-game demo for Monster Hunter Wilds, set to release on August 5, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The demo supports save data transfer, allowing players who start the full game without existing save data to carry over their demo progress. The announcement accompanied details for the Ver.1.042 update, arriving August 4 at 11:30. That update makes the limited-time event quest "Pupropolu Isn't Crying" permanent and allows all 26 currently available event quests and challenge quests to be played offline, a change from their previous online-only availability. The update also adjusts the quest counter so available quests appear at the top of the list. Several other bug fixes are included. The demo and update arrive ahead of the 2027 release of the ultra-large expansion "Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance," which is the context for the announcement. Capcom has not yet detailed the demo's content or length, promising further information later. Monster Hunter Wilds is currently on sale for the same three platforms.
Jul 14
Capcom has announced a price revision and product lineup restructuring for Monster Hunter Wilds, effective August 4 at 9:00. The game's standard edition will drop to 4,990 yen (tax included). Three existing bundles-the Deluxe Edition, Premium Deluxe Edition, and Cosmetic DLC Pass-will be discontinued. Three new set products will replace them: the Gold Edition (base game plus two items), the Cosmetic DLC Collection (all 10 DLC packs), and the Extra Cosmetic DLC Pack (paid DLC previously sold separately). Premium bonuses previously tied to the discontinued editions will be obtainable through the new sets. The changes come ahead of the super-large expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, scheduled for 2027. The game is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
Jul 8
Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds has had its Steam Deck compatibility rating changed from Unknown to Playable. The game's default graphics settings are described as running comfortably on the handheld, and it was already popular on the platform, ranking 17th in the Top 100 Games Played on Steam Deck shortly after launch.
Jun 10
Capcom opened the Steam store page for Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance on June 10, accepting wishlist registrations. The expansion, announced at Summer Game Fest 2026, adds a sky-ruins map, Boost Bracer action, new monsters, and appearances of Lao-Shan Lung and Kushala Daora. Price and release date are unannounced; the base game is on sale until June 19.
Jun 8
Following the announcement of the 'Monster Hunter Wilds' expansion 'Ascendance' at Summer Game Fest 2026, the game's concurrent player count on PC more than doubled within two days, reaching 38,163. Meanwhile, the previous title 'Monster Hunter: World' hit 42,287 concurrent players and surpassed 30 million units sold worldwide.
Jun 7
Japanese gaming site Inside has curated a list of eight major titles confirmed for 2027, including the final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, a full remake of the original Tomb Raider, and the debut title from Ikumi Nakamura's studio UNSEEN. The list also features new entries in the Virtua Fighter and Dragon Ball Xenoverse series, a new Gundam action game, and large DLC for Monster Hunter: Wilds.
Jun 7
Automaton's 85th weekly roundup highlights seven notable game articles, including the October 2 release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve with a pre-order bonus port of Ace Combat Zero, the announcement of Monster Hunter Wilds large DLC Ascendance featuring Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung, and Palworld's official release on July 10 with its biggest update.
Jun 5
Capcom announced the large-scale expansion Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance during the Summer Game Fest 2026 livestream on June 5. The expansion is scheduled for release in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It introduces a new sky-bound land, a Master Rank quest tier, and a new equipment item called the Boost Bracer, which enables new movement and combat actions. The trailer confirmed the return of Elder Dragons Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung. Players must own the base game and have cleared the Chapter 6-1 quest "Awakening from a Dream" to access the expansion. Separately, Capcom announced that a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds is in development, with release details to come later. The base game launched in February 2025 and sold over 8 million copies in its first three days, later reaching 10 million by March 2025.