The second Open Beta test is live for Monster Hunter Wilds. Running over last weekend, and next. Stress testing network features and giving fans a glimpse at what’s to come.
I’d personally vowed to not dive into it until the main release. However……that’s not the case as I’ve just re-downloaded the beta client in Steam.
But it’s not for me, it’s for you. I want to report on a few things and we need to talk about benchmarking.
Open beta
This is actually the second open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds, and whilst I couldn’t commit enough time to it in the first one, I aim to answer a few questions for myself.
Largely around how hunts work from moment to moment, what the exploration looks like (is it all more seamless than previously?), and I need to try some other weapons out.
It’s worth noting that this test is the same build of the game as it was last time. And this is significant, because there were a lot of performance and graphical issues for users on all platforms.
So bear in mind that this is very much a technical test. Stress-testing their servers, seeing how platforms and game clients interact for cross-play, multiplayer etc.
Monster Hunter has had notoriously opaque multiplayer systems in the past, so this more open-looking system is a big shift for Capcom. It definitely requires the testing.
Benchmarking
To try and counter the fact that the Open Beta is that build that performed so poorly for a lot of people. Capcom have deployed a Monster Hunter Wilds benchmarking tool.
First thing to note is that it’s over 20GB! So not an insignificant download on devices where storage space is at a premium.
However, it’s a great way to see if you’re going to be able to run Monster Hunter Wilds at release. It runs through the same opening sequences and some of the cinematic elements of the Beta. Set your graphical settings, and off it goes.
I let it run twice. Once at auto-detected settings on my PC and once with frame generation turned off. The results are below:
Suffice it to say, I’m happy I can play at 60fps with relative confidence. How that pans-out when trying to stream it, is a different thing entirely. So we’ll see!
I’ve also had a friend run it on a higher-spec rig and if they were a fan, they’d have a blinder of an experience playing it!
Wild about Monster Hunting
I’m all in on the hype again now, and Monster Hunter is about to become life. It will consume my gaming time for a good while.
What that means is you’re about to get hit in the face with a stream of Capcom’s finest.
Still concerned about what weapons to main, how well will I adapt to the new more seamless experience.
Will I be able to get more friends to play this time around? Or will the onboarding experience into the world of Monster Hunter still be obtuse and intimidating?
There’s a lot to take in with a Monster Hunter game and surely Capcom are well aware. Let’s see how well they’ve listened and how much changes to the core formula impact the core gameplay.
Wilds is almost here
Monster Hunter Wilds is primed for massive success, but it has to stick the landing. Only time will tell.
Check out the beta, benchmark your computer. Get ready! And remember that the beta is still the same build as last year, so don’t fret that it doesn’t seem to have improved.
In a few short weeks Monster Hunter Wilds will be here and we can start to unpack it all properly.
For more game previews like this, click right here.
