Capcom’s upcoming title, Monster Hunter Wilds, promises an evolved hunting experience, but what stands out is the director’s new focus on storytelling. Unlike previous entries, Monster Hunter Wilds aims to deliver its narrative upfront, immersing players from the very beginning.
A New Direction for Monster Hunter
In a recent interview, the game’s director, Yuya Tokuda, revealed that the team wanted players to connect deeply with the story right away. This approach is a significant shift from the traditional Monster Hunter formula, where lore is often discovered through gameplay and side quests.
Monster Hunter Wilds director, Yuya Tokuda, has bested Arkveld with all 14 weapons in Open Beta Test 2!
Hunters, how are you fairing as you face down the flagship monster for the first time? https://t.co/PDNQoMClUH
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) February 7, 2025
“The concept that I had from the start of the game was humanity as part of the ecosystem, and realizing that humans weren’t something on the outside of it looking in, they were part of it, and they had an effect on it,” Tokuda explains. “And that naturally led to an increased focus on story. Because, you know, the storytellers, the humans, are actually right in there amongst it.
It just made sense to me to have the story more upfront than in past titles. So it was a natural evolution of that concept, and it spoke to all the other elements of the game, such as the learning curve of which monsters you face in which order as you get started in the game, and how they teach you the necessary skills to play the game, how that interacted with a chapter-based story structure of which one you were going to meet next. It all sort of flowed naturally from that original concept, rather than being the idea of, as you said, let’s just make it more like an RPG on that basis.
The result was, it looked like, as you said, ‘Oh, are you trying to go for RPG players by imitating that structure?’ But really it was just a natural outcome of our other decisions that hopefully makes sense to players.” — Yuya Tokuda
Enhancing Player Immersion
The decision to prioritize the story upfront allows for richer character development and a more engaging world. Players can expect a narrative that complements the intense monster-hunting action, creating a balanced and captivating experience.
What This Means for Fans
For longtime fans, this change could bring a refreshing layer of depth, making each hunt feel more meaningful. New players will find it easier to dive into the game, as the story provides context and motivation from the start.
Stay tuned with Cheirush for more updates on Monster Hunter Wilds as Capcom continues to unveil new features that redefine the franchise.