"Monster Hunter Wilds Fusion: Crossover Inspirations from FFXIV, Witcher 3"

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Crossovers

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous enhancements and new features, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter World. Specifically, collaborations with Final Fantasy XIV and The Witcher 3 directly influenced key gameplay aspects in Wilds.

Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, suggested a change to the HUD during the FFXIV crossover event. This suggestion, to display attack names on-screen in real-time, became a core feature in Monster Hunter Wilds. The success of the Behemoth fight in the World crossover, where attack names were already displayed, paved the way for this implementation. The image below highlights this new HUD element in Wilds.

The FFXIV crossover in Monster Hunter: World, featuring Cactuars, a Kulu-Ya-Ku hunt set to Chocobo music, Drachen armor, and the challenging Behemoth fight, provided valuable insight. The Behemoth fight, in particular, showcased the positive player response to on-screen attack name displays, a feature only previously seen (to a limited extent) with the "Jump" emote after defeating Behemoth.

The overwhelmingly positive player reaction to the Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World, where players controlled the speaking protagonist Geralt of Rivia and engaged in dialogue choices, directly impacted Wilds' design. This collaboration served as a test, demonstrating player enthusiasm for more robust dialogue and a voiced protagonist.

Director Yuya Tokuda's foresight, coupled with the success of these collaborations, shaped Monster Hunter Wilds into the experience it is today. The inclusion of a voiced protagonist and expanded dialogue options, directly inspired by the Witcher 3 crossover, are testaments to this innovative approach.

For a comprehensive look at Monster Hunter Wilds, including exclusive gameplay and interviews, check out this month's IGN First:

• 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