Home News How World's FFXIV and The Witcher 3 Collabs Inspired Monster Hunter Wilds - IGN First

How World's FFXIV and The Witcher 3 Collabs Inspired Monster Hunter Wilds - IGN First

Author : Jonathan Update : Mar 21,2025

Monster Hunter Wilds boasts numerous changes, new features, and quality-of-life improvements. But its evolution began surprisingly early, during Monster Hunter World's crossover events. Feedback from these collaborations, particularly suggestions from Final Fantasy XIV's director Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) and the positive reception to the Witcher 3 crossover, directly shaped Monster Hunter Wilds' gameplay.

Specifically, discussions with Yoshi-P during the FFXIV crossover inspired the addition of attack names displayed on screen in real-time. The overwhelmingly positive player response to the Witcher 3 crossover solidified the decision to include more dialogue options and a speaking protagonist in Monster Hunter Wilds.

How Final Fantasy XIV's Director Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

During the Monster Hunter: World and FFXIV crossover reveal, Yoshi-P suggested to Monster Hunter Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda that players appreciate seeing the name of their attack displayed as they perform it. This feedback directly led to the new HUD feature (highlighted in the image above).

This wasn't entirely new; the 2018 FFXIV crossover in Monster Hunter: World offered a glimpse of this. The collaboration featured catchable Cactuars, a Kulu-Ya-Ku hunt set to Chocobo music, Drachen armor, and the challenging Behemoth fight. Similar to many MMORPGs, Behemoth's attacks were displayed onscreen as text.

Completing the Behemoth repel quest unlocked a "Jump" emote, inspired by *Final Fantasy*'s Dragoon. Using it displayed "[Hunter] performs Jump," a rare instance of on-screen attack names prior to *Monster Hunter Wilds*.

Drachen armor set, Gae Bolg Insect Glaive, and Dragon Soul Kinsect, part of the FFXIV collaboration in Monster Hunter World. Courtesy Capcom.

How The Witcher 3 Influenced Monster Hunter Wilds

Director Tokuda noted the comparisons between Monster Hunter Wilds' enhanced dialogue and gameplay elements and The Witcher 3, stating this was the inspiration. The Witcher 3 collaboration in Monster Hunter: World served as a test, gauging player reaction to increased dialogue and options.

Playing as Geralt in the crossover provided voiced dialogue and choice options, a stark contrast to previous *Monster Hunter* games. This directly influenced *Monster Hunter Wilds*, where the protagonist now has a voice and engages in conversations.

Monster Hunter Wilds' customizable playable character initiating dialogue with Alma, an NPC.

While Wilds wasn't in active development during the World collaborations, Tokuda envisioned these features for the future. He actively pursued the Witcher 3 collaboration with CD Projekt Red.

This information comes from an exclusive visit to Capcom's Japan offices for this month's IGN First. Don't miss the full hands-on preview, interviews, and gameplay:

Behind Monster Hunter Wilds' New Approach to Starting Weapons and Hope Series Gear Monster Hunter Wilds Interview and Gameplay: Meet Nu Udra, Apex of the Oilwell Basin Evolving Monster Hunter: How Capcom’s Belief in the Series Made it a Worldwide Hit Monster Hunter Wilds: Gravios Returns in This Exclusive Gameplay