Capcom is running a Monster Hunter Wilds open beta that has proven so popular it has eclipsed fully-released multiplayer games.

The new Monster Hunter Wilds open beta has neared half a million players, with a current all-time peak of 463,798 players. It’s worth noting these are only stats based on Steam user data, so its likely with console players the beta has topped 500K players.

The open beta for the latest in Capcom’s monster hunting action series is so popular it’s currently the fourth most-played game on Steam (with a 24hr peak, not all-time concurrent players) after Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, DOTA 2, and that goofy Banana game.

The Monster Hunter Wilds open beta had an initial run from October 28th through the 30th for PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS5, followed by its current phase from October 31st through November 3rd on PS5 (for non-PlayStation Plus), Xbox Series X|S, and PC with full crossplay enabled.

Here’s a rundown on the highly-anticipated game:

The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.
This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.

Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit. The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Story

A few years past, a young boy named Nata was rescued at the border of the Forbidden Lands, an unexplored region the guild has yet to survey.

After hearing the boy’s tale of his lone escape from a mysterious monster that attacked his village, the Guild organized an expedition into the Forbidden Lands to investigate.

Features

• A Living World – Environments within the Forbidden Lands can drastically change as the weather shifts constantly and suddenly. During the harsh Fallow and perilous Inclemency periods, ravenous monsters will venture out to hunt in packs, yet during the Plenty periods, wildlife is rich and abundant.
• Monsters – The monsters who inhabit these environments have been forced to adapt to the dynamic changes that occur, using their unique characteristics to survive and thrive.
• Hunting – As the world around them changes, so must the hunters and their tactics. Not only will hunters have a multitude of weapons and armor to choose from, but the art of the hunt itself has evolved as hunters learn to anticipate monsters’ behavior and familiarize themselves with their environment.
• Characters – From hunting partners to fellow expedition members, you’ll encounter plenty of those who will support you on your journey.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set for a release on February 28th, 2025 across for PC (via Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.