Major Issue Identified in Monster Hunter Wilds Beta 2

As anticipation builds for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom has officially announced a second open beta for players. This crucial testing phase, set to occur from February 6 to February 9, and again from February 13 to February 16, comes amid concerns that its performance issues may adversely affect the game’s impending launch on February 28. As the latest installment in the franchise that revived its global popularity with Monster Hunter: World, the stakes are high for Wilds.

The Monster Hunter franchise has solidified its position as one of Capcom’s flagship series, with heightened expectations leading into the release of Wilds. Notably, the initial beta showcased an impressive peak player count on Steam, surpassing that of its predecessors, World and Rise. However, this surge in interest is somewhat tempered by the widespread criticism of the first beta’s poor optimization, which has left many potential players wary as they look ahead to the full game.

Performance Issues Persist in Monster Hunter Wilds’ New Beta

Promised Optimizations Absent in Upcoming Beta

Despite the announcement of the second beta, players have been informed via the Monster Hunter X (formerly Twitter) account that it will not reflect any of the anticipated improvements discussed in the Pre-Launch Community Update. This means that players will experience the same performance setbacks noted in the first beta, potentially repeating the backlash that followed the initial playtest.

Heads up, hunters. Improvements covered in the Pre-Launch Community Update, including performance, game balance, weapon mechanics, known issues and more will not be reflected in OBT 2 and will be featured in the full game. Learn more:https://t.co/MBeUcp7Thm — Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) January 8, 2025

In addition to performance enhancements, the absence of significant gameplay updates, such as additional hitstop mechanics and weapon type adjustments, further complicates the situation. Thus, players will not get a comprehensive or accurate experience of what to expect with the complete game just around the corner.

Concerns Over Performance Could Deter Players

Potential Backlash Looms Close to Launch Date

The player walking through a hub city in Monster Hunter Wilds.

While the intent behind the second beta is to welcome players who missed the first opportunity, the lack of meaningful advancements could result in a negative reception. Gamers aware of Capcom’s commitments to performance enhancements for the full game may feel reassured, but many prospective players might not be privy to these updates. An unoptimized beta so close to release could solidify misconceptions about the game’s overall quality, undermining enthusiasm for Wilds.

Furthermore, players’ inability to gauge the actual performance of Wilds prior to its release leads to skepticism. Those who experience shortcomings during either beta phase will likely hesitate to purchase the game at launch. To complicate matters, Capcom has only mentioned that a benchmarking tool is “under consideration,”leaving players in the dark about potential optimizations for the full version.

The decision to forgo a polished beta in favor of dedicating resources to the final game development is perhaps understandable; however, if the second beta generates significant negative feedback shortly before launch, the impact on the game’s reception could be detrimental. In hindsight, it may have been prudent to skip the release of this beta entirely.

Sources:
Monster Hunter/X,
Monster Hunter Wilds/Steam

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