FFXIV, Witcher 3 Collabs Inspire Monster Hunter Wilds - IGN

Monster Hunter Wilds brings a fresh wave of changes, new features, and quality-of-life enhancements to the beloved Monster Hunter series. Interestingly, the seeds of these innovations were planted during Monster Hunter World's crossover events. Specifically, insights from Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, during the FFXIV crossover, and the enthusiastic response to The Witcher 3 collaboration, played pivotal roles in shaping new gameplay elements for Monster Hunter Wilds.

During the collaboration with Final Fantasy 14, a conversation between Yoshida and Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda led to a significant change in the game's heads-up display (HUD). Yoshida suggested that players enjoy seeing the names of their attacks displayed on screen as they execute them. This idea, initially tested in the 2018 FFXIV crossover event in Monster Hunter: World, became a feature in Monster Hunter Wilds. The crossover event itself was a grand affair, featuring elements like catchable Cactuars, a giant Kulu-Ya-Ku hunted to the Chocobo theme, the stylish Drachen armor, and the challenging Behemoth fight. In this event, Behemoth's moves were displayed on screen, similar to MMORPGs, and completing the repel quest for Behemoth unlocked the Jump emote, inspired by the Dragoon's movements in Final Fantasy, with text appearing on screen as "[Hunter] performs Jump."

The positive reception to The Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World also had a lasting impact on Monster Hunter Wilds. Director Yuya Tokuda was inspired by the comparisons players made between Monster Hunter Wilds' new dialogue options and gameplay elements to those in The Witcher 3. In the crossover, players took on the role of Geralt of Rivia, who speaks and interacts with other characters, offering dialogue choices—a stark contrast to the silent protagonists of previous Monster Hunter games. This experiment with player interaction and dialogue influenced the decision to include a speaking protagonist and more dialogue options in Monster Hunter Wilds, enhancing player engagement and narrative depth.

Although Monster Hunter Wilds was not in active development during World's collaborations, Tokuda was already contemplating future directions for the series. His proactive approach in seeking a collaboration with The Witcher 3's developers at CD Projekt Red underscores his forward-thinking vision. These insights were shared during an exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices as part of IGN First, offering a glimpse into the development process and the thoughtful evolution of the Monster Hunter series.

How Final Fantasy XIV’s Director Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

The collaboration between Monster Hunter: World and Final Fantasy XIV was monumental, featuring a variety of exciting elements and challenges. The introduction of attack names on the HUD, inspired by Yoshida's suggestion, is a direct result of this collaboration and can be seen highlighted in the image above.

The video above showcases the Behemoth fight from the FFXIV crossover event, where the boss's moves are displayed on screen, setting the stage for the new HUD feature in Monster Hunter Wilds.

The Drachen armor set, Gae Bolg Insect Glaive, and Dragon Soul Kinsect from the FFXIV collaboration are showcased above, courtesy of Capcom.

How The Witcher 3 Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

The video above features the The Witcher 3 crossover in Monster Hunter: World, where players control Geralt of Rivia, engaging in dialogue and making choices, a feature that inspired the more interactive narrative in Monster Hunter Wilds.

The image above shows Monster Hunter Wilds' customizable character initiating dialogue with Alma, an NPC, reflecting the new interactive elements inspired by The Witcher 3.

For more insights into Monster Hunter Wilds, check out the full hands-on, final preview, new in-depth interviews, and exclusive gameplay from January’s Monster Hunter Wilds IGN First:

• Behind Monster Hunter Wilds' New Approach to Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear
• Monster Hunter Wilds Interview and Gameplay: Meet Nu Udra, Apex of the Oilwell Basin
• Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit
• Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay