Monster Hunter: World Limited Time Beta Available

If you’re a member of PlayStation Plus, you can now participate in a limited time beta for Capcom’s Monster Hunter: World prior to its January 26, 2018 console release. The beta will run from December 9th through December 12th and will allow you to participate in three quests set on two expansive maps, try out all of the game’s weapons, and play together with friends and strangers. This 3 minute long video offers a brief beta guide:

Along with the beta, this years PlayStation Experience brings us a new trailer with glimpses of the game’s story, environments, and a Mega Man theme for your Palico companion:

And this post from the game’s director Yuya Tokuda on the PlayStation Blog has 6 things you might want to know about the beta. An excerpt:

Hi, I’m Yuya Tokuda and I’m the director of Monster Hunter: World. Speaking on behalf of the whole development team, I’m delighted to be able to bring the beta test of Monster Hunter: World to players worldwide.

This is the first time we’ve released a Monster Hunter game in all regions simultaneously, and also the first time the online multiplayer servers have supported global matchmaking, so it truly is the most worldwide Monster Hunter game yet. That’s why we decided to release a beta in order to stress test the servers.

I hope you enjoy the selection of quests we’ve included in the beta and get the most out of it while it’s available. By playing the beta and enjoying the hunting action of Monster Hunter: World, you’ll also be helping us out a lot! A huge, living, breathing world of thrilling action awaits you.

Today I’m going to explain what’s in the beta and how the get the most out of it, especially if you’re a newcomer to Monster Hunter and aren’t sure how to get into the game. Don’t worry, you’ll love it!

1. The backstory to your mission and quests

While the beta features several quests, the main game has an engaging storyline for you to follow. You’ll embark on a mission to the New World, a newly discovered continent, and join an expedition to discover more about this mysterious land. This is actually the fifth time a research party has been sent, following in the wake of the Elder Dragons which cross the ocean every 10 years to the New World. To discover the fate of your hunter and the rest of the team, you’ll have to play the full game!

2. Your weapons: what they are, how they work, and our recommended loadout

Monster Hunter: World features 14 different weapon types, each with its own unique moves and gameplay, and you can try out all of them in the beta. We’ve included a short video showing you how the weapon looks, and you can also hop into the training area to give them a try for yourself. (You can change your weapon inside the training area too!)

The game plays quite differently depending on your choice of weapon, so for newcomers to Monster Hunter, I’d recommend choosing one of the faster weapons, such as the Dual Blades or the Long Sword. These are actually the two weapons I personally use when I’m first testing out a new monster during development, as they let you move around quickly so you can easily get a read of the monster’s behaviour.

We also have some ranged weapons available to use: two kinds of Bowgun (Light and Heavy) and the Bow. These weapons have been rather tricky to control in the past, so for Monster Hunter: World, we’ve made them a lot easier to use. If you’re used to playing shooter games, I think you’ll be able to pick these up pretty quickly and get right into the hunt.