The Monster Hunter franchise took a significant step towards modernization with World, and Rise further expanded upon this with its truly open environment.  However, Japanese developers sometimes cling to peculiar traditions, much like Japan's unique approach to web design.  Monster Hunter Rise unfortunately retains the series' historically complex online system, requiring players to navigate a convoluted process to hunt together.

BioWare's director and head of Mass Effect development, Michael Gamble, recently took to social media to express his frustrations with this system.  Having enjoyed Monster Hunter World for years after its release, Gamble noted his surprise at rediscovering the "interesting" matchmaking and world-sharing mechanics in Rise.

The word "interesting" can often carry a double meaning, particularly in this context.  It can imply complexity, but also a veiled criticism or even disapproval.

Gamble confirmed he was playing on a PS5 Pro, but the online hurdles in Monster Hunter are a universal experience, regardless of platform.  Many players have echoed his sentiments, criticizing the game's menu design and overall user experience.

Unlike most modern games where players can seamlessly create lobbies or join friends' worlds, Monster Hunter Rise requires players to join specific quests via a quest board.  Directly inviting friends via platform-specific friends lists isn't possible. Instead, players must exchange friend codes within the game before sending and receiving quest invitations, which only serve as notifications rather than direct access.

This idiosyncratic approach to online functionality isn't unique to Monster Hunter. Many Japanese games, particularly those by FromSoftware, have historically required players to set room passwords and use in-game summoning mechanics.  Even their latest open-world title, Elden Ring, suffers from similar limitations, often relying on fan-made mods for quality-of-life improvements.