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

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Legacy Forged in Collaboration

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous improvements and new features, but its development was subtly shaped by earlier crossover events in Monster Hunter World. Specifically, insights from Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida ("Yoshi-P") and the positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover directly influenced key gameplay elements.

Yoshi-P's suggestion, shared during the FFXIV crossover event, led to the inclusion of on-screen attack names in Wilds' HUD. This feature, a small but impactful change, was initially glimpsed in the World collaboration's Behemoth fight, where the boss's attacks were displayed in real-time. The Behemoth fight also featured the "Jump" emote, mirroring the Dragoon's actions in FFXIV, further demonstrating the influence.

The success of the Witcher 3 crossover provided further inspiration. The positive reception to Geralt's voiced dialogue and interactive conversations served as a proving ground for similar features in Wilds. This led to the inclusion of a speaking protagonist and expanded dialogue options, a significant departure from previous, silent protagonists.

The Witcher 3 collaboration in Monster Hunter: World acted as a successful test, showcasing the potential of more narrative depth. Director Yuya Tokuda recognized this potential and incorporated it into Wilds' design.

This information comes from an exclusive IGN First visit to Capcom's Japanese offices. For a complete preview of Monster Hunter Wilds, including in-depth interviews and gameplay, check out the January IGN First coverage. Links to additional content are available below. (Note: Links omitted as they were not provided in the original text and are likely specific to the IGN website.)