The highly anticipated Monster Hunter Wilds is just weeks away from its global launch, and recent beta tests have provided valuable insights for the development team.  Director Yuya Tokuda has shared some unique ways they've been gathering player data, including a surprising hands-on approach.

The first open beta, held earlier this month, gave players a taste of what's to come and proved to be a hit. While the game's popularity was already high, the beta solidified its status as a must-have title for 2025. These beta sessions are not just for players, however. They offer crucial feedback to Capcom, allowing developers to identify and address any potential issues before launch.

Tokuda explained his deep involvement in observing player behavior during the beta.  Rather than solely relying on internal testing, he actively watched beta streams and videos to gain a broader perspective on how players interacted with the game. This approach provides invaluable insights that internal testing, with developers already familiar with the game, can't replicate.

Furthermore, members of the development team participated in the beta, going a step further than simple observation. Tokuda himself joined random players' games undercover, using the in-game SOS Flare system to seamlessly integrate into hunts.  This allowed him to observe player reactions to various game mechanics firsthand, identifying areas for potential tweaks and adjustments.

Tokuda's strategy of joining random players through SOS Flares provides a unique opportunity to witness genuine player reactions and understand if certain game mechanics are functioning as intended or require further refinement.

Unfortunately, the previous beta session encountered a disruption due to the PlayStation Network outage. To compensate for the lost time, Capcom extended the second open beta by 24 hours across all platforms. Players had the opportunity to continue hunting until February 17th.