Fans have been eagerly waiting since the first beta of Monster Hunter Wilds for a new way to play the highly anticipated new title once again in advance. Finally, a second open beta has been announced that you can join soon.
When does the beta take place? The second open beta will occur in two phases:
- The first phase took place from February 7, 2025, 4:00 AM to February 10, 3:59 AM
- The second phase starts on February 14, 4:00 AM and ends due to an extension on February 18, 3:59 AM
Due to a PSN server outage, players on PlayStation were unable to participate in the beta on February 8. Therefore, Capcom decided to extend the period by 24 hours (via x.com).
Thus, the second beta phase now ends on February 18 at 3:59 AM instead of February 17. The extension applies to all platforms.
All information about platforms, crossplay, and participation requirements
On which platforms does the beta take place? You can participate on all available platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Do I need a PlayStation Plus or Game Pass subscription? Particularly this time, players without an existing PlayStation Plus or Game Pass subscription can also participate. However, this applies only to these two beta phases. If you want to continue playing online afterward, you will need to subscribe.
Is there a preload? Yes, the preload has been available since February 6, 2025, and is 23.66 GB in size (via x.com). You can download the beta in advance and start directly on February 7. If you have already downloaded the beta for the first phase, you can seamlessly use it for the next phase.
Can I play multiplayer with other players? Yes, in the beta you will also be able to play multiplayer.
Will there be crossplay? Crossplay will be possible, allowing you to play with friends on other platforms.
Can I create private lobbies? Yes, it will be possible to create private lobbies. You can invite up to 16 hunters by joining through a lobby ID search.
Can you play without a lobby? Yes, there will be a single-player mode. In this mode, you do not have to join a lobby and can pause the game. If you need help with a quest, you can still send out a distress signal.
These contents and bonuses await you in the beta
What can you play in the beta? The beta will include all the content that you already experienced in the first beta in November 2024. This content can also be seamlessly continued.
Are there new contents? Yes, in addition, you can face the monster Gypceros, known from previous titles, and the new flagship monster Arkveld.
A high-difficulty quest has been added for Arkveld, which will be available specifically for the beta. After completing the quest once, however, it will only appear very rarely. You can start it with Alma after you have completed the Doshaguma hunt.
Additionally, there will be a training area where you can test and practice various weapons in single-player mode. Also, the quantity of consumables in your possession will not decrease there. Note: The planned improvements and changes for the release are not part of the beta.
Which monsters can I hunt in the beta? You can face the following large monsters:
All monsters in Monster Hunter Wilds can be found in our comprehensive overview: Monster Hunter Wilds: All monsters in the list currently known
Can I also upgrade and forge my equipment in the beta? No, in the beta version you can only choose from some ready-made sets and assemble them. There is also only one version of each weapon type.
What participation bonuses are there? You can also secure the participation bonuses for the full game. These consist of a decorative in-game pendant with a cute Palico and a new item bonus package with the following contents:
- Raw meat x10
- Shock trap x3
- Pitfall trap x3
- Stun bomb x10
- Large barrel bomb x3
- Armor sphere x5
- Lightning capsule x10
- Large dung capsule x10
Note that you can only receive these bonuses once. So if you participate in both phases, you will receive the item bonus package only once. If you already participated in the first beta in November 2024, you can claim this item package in addition to the one you have already secured. Additionally, you must play the beta on the same platform you own the full version on.
Data transfer to the full version
Can I use my save file at release? Yes and no, you can only carry over your character creation data. This way, you can start directly with your finished hunter and Palico at release. Progress and items will not be transferred.
What could go wrong? There is a bug that occurred in the first beta. It made it impossible to load your character onto the server after revising it and closing the game without selecting the saved data.
It is also possible that some design elements in the finished game may not look 100% the same as in the beta version.
Can I revise my character again? Yes, you can revise your characters again. You should then make sure to start the game again with your “new” character so that it can be successfully transferred before closing the game.
Do I have to participate in the second beta if I have already transferred my data in the first? If you participated in the first beta and the mentioned bug occurred for you, you should participate in the second beta so that your character can be transferred smoothly.
The first beta was a huge success. However, you might have missed out on some things. We have compiled 10 hidden things for you to keep an eye out for in the upcoming beta: Monster Hunter Wilds: 10 hidden features that you might easily miss in the beta
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