The anticipation for Monster Hunter Wilds is high: The open beta of the action RPG has already attracted over 360,000 players on Steam within 20 minutes of its launch.
What kind of game is this? Monster Hunter Wilds is an action RPG and the latest installment in the popular Monster Hunter series. As the name suggests, you spend most of your time hunting monsters.
Monster Hunter Wilds will be released on February 28, 2025, for PC on Steam, as well as for the consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A free beta went live on all platforms on November 1 at 4 AM, showcasing a small portion of the game.
Over 360,000 Players in Just 20 Minutes
How big is the interest in the beta? Very big, when looking at the player numbers. Just under 20 minutes after the servers went online, over 360,000 players were already playing the beta on Steam at the same time. This is shown by a screenshot uploaded at 4:16 AM on X.
Meanwhile, the “all-time peak” of Monster Hunter Wilds is even higher. According to SteamDB, over 460,000 players were simultaneously in the beta. However, these numbers only account for players on PC. Players on PS5 or Xbox are not included yet.
How is the beta received by players? While some have already completed their first Rey Dau, many struggle with a ridiculously low number of polygons. In the subreddit r/MHWilds, beta players are sharing screenshots and videos that range from funny to disturbing.
In the comments under the post on X, player numbers are often compared to those of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The RPG from BioWare was released shortly before, on October 31, and had a peak of “only” 70,000 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.
The users commenting that compare Dragon Age to Monster Hunter Wilds see this as proof that the game has flopped.
This comparison is already flawed since the new Dragon Age costs 60 €, while the beta of Monster Hunter Wilds is freely accessible to everyone. The barrier to entry is therefore significantly lower, and not everyone who plays the beta has to buy the game (or has already pre-ordered it).
The open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds ends on November 4 at 4 AM. What content is playable, whether your progress carries over to the final game, and much more can be found here: Open Beta for Monster Hunter Wilds starts on PS5, Xbox, and Steam – All dates and content at a glance
