Image: Capcom
Alongside Monster Hunter Wilds' release date, Capcom has also unveiled three new monsters coming to the game.
Capcom has finally revealed that Monster Hunter Wilds, the highly-anticipated next entry in its smash-hit Monster Hunter series, will be released globally on February 28, 2025. Alongside the announcement of the release date, three new monsters have also been revealed. This includes the game's expected ‘Flagship’ monster and a new ‘Apex’ monster for the Scarlet Forest locale.
Capcom released all this exciting new information on Monster Hunter Wilds during the PlayStation State of Play broadcast on Wednesday (September 25), where it debuted the game's fourth trailer. Check it out below:
Three new monsters join Monster Hunter Wilds' roster
While it's certainly exciting news that Monster Hunter fans only need to wait little over five months before they can embark on a new journey in Monster Hunter Wilds, what has really grabbed everyone's attention is the reveal of three new monsters joining the game's roster: Arkveld, Uth Duna, and Quematrice.
Arkveld
Arkveld is expected to be Monster Hunter Wilds' Flagship monster. Throughout the series' many titles, the Flagship monsters have featured prominently in each game's story and were often one of the more difficult enemies players will have to take down – with some Flagships even forming a sort of rivalry with the player character in some titles.
Arkveld will take the spotlight in Monster Hunter Wilds' story as the monster that prompted the Hunter's Guild to launch an expedition into the Forbidden Lands. This came after it attacked a local village and left a young boy named Nata stranded near the region's border to be discovered by the Guild, with Nata being one of the characters accompanying the player during the expedition.
Also known as the ‘White Wraith’, Arkveld belongs to a species long thought to have been extinct and is known for a unique chain-like appendage that extends from its wings. While this monter's official classification has yet to be revealed, we expect it will be an Elder Dragon due to its unique morphology. Moreover, it doesn't seem tied into one specific locale and is even seen challenging a Rey Dau, the Apex monster of the Windward Plains, in its own nest.
Uth Duna
Uth Duna is the second Apex monster to be revealed, reigning over the Scarlet Forest locale. In Monster Hunter Wilds, Apex monsters are a new official designation for monsters that are the apex predators of their respective locales. This makes them some of the more challenging foes in the game, probably a tier below – if not on par with – Elder Dragons in terms of strength.
Uth Duna is a Leviathan that has adapted to the Scarlet Forest's water-rich environment, sporting multiple large fin-like protrusions along its body. It also makes use of the moisture from its environment and its own bodily fluids to create a protective veil around itself during battle, before striking out at Hunters using water-based attacks or its own considerable physical strength.
Quematrice
Finally, we have the Quematrice, a Brute Wyvern inhabiting the Windward Plains. This hefty monster sports the typical theropod-like build of most Brute Wyverns, but has a particularly elongated tail and large frills on its head that make it look like a cross between a chicken and a Tyrannosaurus. But don't let its admittedly goofy appearance fool you, Quematrice is a physically imposing beast that is also able to discharge a flammable substance that it can ignite by dragging its tail across the ground.
Unlike Arkveld and Uth Duna, Quematrice isn't at the top of the food chain in its locale. Instead, it is often seen fighting other smaller carnivores over carrion – a consequence of living in the cutthroat environment that is the Windward Plains.
Monster Hunter Wild pre-order bonuses and Deluxe editions
With Monster Hunter Wilds' release date now revealed, pre-orders for the game have also been made available alongside information for its deluxe editions. Players who pre-order will be able to receive the ‘Guild Knight’ Layered Armor set and the ‘Hope Charm’ Talisman.
Monster Hunter Wilds will also come with two Deluxe editions: the ‘Deluxe Edition’ and the ‘Premium Deluxe Edition’. Both editions will include the Base Game alongside a variety of exclusive cosmetics.
Players who also have existing Save Data from Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will also receive a bonus armor set and weapon for their Felyne companions.
Monster Hunter Wilds will be released globally on February 28, 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. For more information on Monster Hunter Wilds, check out the game's official website here.