The Forbidden Lands is about to get even wilder, as Monster Hunter Wilds gears up for the release of its first major post-launch update. As announced during a 13-minute showcase held on 25 March, Title Update 1 will hit the ground running on 3/4 April (depending on time zone) with plenty of new content in tow, including more fearsome beasts, new armour and cosmetic pieces, a new interactive hub, and more.
For starters, Mizutsune – a leviathan monster first introduced in Monster Hunter Generations – returns to give players a deadly bubble bath. The hunt unlocks at Hunter Rank (HR) 21, and can be started by talking to Kanya in the Scarlet Forest. An eight-star Tempered iteration will also spawn alongside Arch-tempered Rey Dau (HR 50 and above), due to appear in “an event quest at a later date”, and Zoh Shia in High Rank. Per tradition, defeating these monsters rewards players with their own bespoke armour sets.
Elsewhere, the Grand Hub offers a new gathering space in which hunters can feast together, arm wrestle, and listen to the Diva belt out songs at night. Other notable additions include a new Barrel Bowling mini-game to earn useful items and pendants, adorable Palico chefs, and seasonal quests, with the first being Festival of Accord: Blossom Dance. The limited-time event runs from 23 April to 3 May and will spruce up the area with cherry blossom trees.
The Grand Hub becomes available at HR 16 and is accessible through Suja, the Peaks of Accord. It also marks the return of Arena Quests, a series of time trials that challenges hunters to complete a quest as fast as possible using predetermined equipment.
Last but certainly not the least, Alma’s outfit and glasses can now be customised through the camp’s Appearance Menu. A free cosmetic will be included at launch, with certain side missions unlocking more eyewear options upon completion.
Title Update 1 arrives on 3/4 April as a free add-on, though there are some paid elements. While classic gestures from previous Monster Hunter games are available for all players, the Cosmetic DLC Pack 1 is reserved for owners of the Cosmetic DLC Pass or Premium Deluxe Edition, and can be purchased through the store.
Moving forward, the excitement will only continue to pick up. The Monster Hunter Wilds showcase ended with a tease of its next major update, giving a glimpse of a persistent fan favourite: Lagiacrus. The long-awaited underwater leviathan debuted in Monster Hunter 3, and was voted third place in the Hunters’ Choice for Top Monster during the franchise’s 20th anniversary, out of a total of over 200 options.
Title Update 2 releases sometime this Summer, but first, a collaboration with an unannounced Capcom title is scheduled for the end of May. Here’s an overview of the game’s roadmap leading up till then:
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
