Monster Hunter Wilds Protag Aims to Conserve, Not Just Hunt

The Monster Hunter series is renowned for its thrilling battles against colossal beasts, but Capcom is keen to highlight a more profound theme in the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds: the intricate relationship between hunters and the natural world. Dive in to discover what's in store for this eagerly anticipated game!

Monster Hunter Wilds Will Focus On Humans And Nature

A Deeper Understanding Of What It Means To Be A Hunter

The essence of the Monster Hunter series lies in the symbiotic relationship between humans and monsters, and Capcom's development team is eager to bring this theme to the forefront in Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds). The game aims to explore the dynamic between the natural world and its inhabitants, emphasizing the role of hunters within this ecosystem. "The relationship between people, nature, and monsters, and what exactly is a hunter's role in a world like that…We wanted to illustrate that not just through the gameplay, but a very deep story. There are many other things we have planned down the line that are aligned to the concept of Monster Hunter Wilds, and we're confident this game was able to achieve what we wanted to express with it," game director Yuya Tokuda shared in an interview with PC Gamer.

To achieve this, Monster Hunter Wilds will feature more dialogue, allowing players to imbue their hunter characters with greater personality. Tokuda highlighted the diversity of the game's world, populated by characters from various backgrounds, such as Nata and Olivia, who approach the monster situation differently. "There are many people with different perspectives living all together. And we also wanted to illustrate how the hunter would feel in a world like that. What would they feel? How would they think? Everybody is different, so we decided to add those kinds of elements to Monster Hunter Wilds."

This approach marks a departure from the series' traditional silent protagonists and minimal dialogue. However, Capcom ensures that this narrative shift won't compromise the beloved combat system. "There may be players who prefer to skip all that and just go keep on hunting the next monster—that's possible too. The volume of the text that's available in the game will not affect the number of monsters available, so we can satisfy everybody," Tokuda reassured. This is just the beginning, as the director hinted at "many other things planned down the line" that will further explore the bond between humans and nature.

For those eager to delve deeper into the underlying themes and narratives of Monster Hunter, be sure to check out Game8's featured article on What Monster Hunter Is Really About.