The next Monster Hunter Wilds beta is currently live, with the PSN outage having extended the specific dates of the second beta by 24 hours, to give everybody a chance to annihilate an Arkveld in the run-up to the game's release in a few weeks. If you've a hankering to try it for the first time, or want to go back to the brutal desert and go chopping a Chatacabra for the second time, we'll explain how to play the MH Wilds beta and when it goes live - and when it goes offline too!
When is the Monster Hunter Wilds beta?
The second Monster Hunter Wilds beta will take place in two stages, although the first has concluded at the time of writing.
The previous beta for Monster Hunter Wilds was an exclusive PlayStation Plus Early Access Play period for PS5, followed by a full open beta period for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC players via Steam. However, the second Monster Hunter Wilds beta is open to everyone.
The dates and times for the second beta are as follows:
- February 6 - February 9, 2025 open beta [concluded]
US: February 6 @ 7pm PST / 10pm EST - February 9 @ 6:59pm PST / 9:59pm EST
UK: February 7 @ 3am GMT - February 10 @ 2:59am GMT - February 13 - February 16, 2025 open beta
US: February 13 @ 7pm PST / 10pm EST - February 16 @ 6:59pm PST / 9:59pm EST
UK: February 14 @ 3am GMT - February 17 @ 2:59 GMT
PS5 hunters, thanks for your patience and understanding during this weekend’s PSN service issues. To account for reduced OBT2 play time due to the outage, we are considering running OBT2 for an additional 24 hours at a future date. Exact details and timing are TBD, so please stay…February 9, 2025
Due to the extended period of PSN downtime during the first period of the second Monster Hunter Wilds beta, Capcom are considering running the open beta for an additional 24 hours at a future date to make up for the lost time. Details are still TBD, so it's not clear if this will be an extension of the next open beta period or an extra period added at a separate time.
How to access the Monster Hunter Wilds open beta
In order to access the Monster Hunter Wilds second open beta, you will need to head over to either your PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X. From there, you'll need to access your platform of choice's storefront and download the open beta client.
No sign-ups, pre-orders, or beta keys are required here. However, a pre-load will be available on all platforms 24 hours ahead of each of their respective start times. That means you can get as much time as possible with the open beta, so be sure to prepare ahead of your chosen platform's launch time.
What's included in the Monster Hunter Wilds beta?
You'll kick off the Monster Hunter Wilds beta with access to Character Creation, with all of the features that will be available in the final release of the game. You can use this to design your hunter and Palico, and are able to remake your character as often as you like during the beta to perfect your look. Furthermore, your Character Creation data carries over to the full game, so you can jump straight into your adventure when that launches.
With your character created, you can watch the opening cutscene and then play the tutorial which will guide you through a Chatacabra hunt, so you can get to grips with the weapons and mechanics. You can then move into the open world to take on a Doshaguma hunt, where you goal is to eliminate the alpha of the pack, while exploring the vast area riding your Seikret.
The new content in the second beta also includes the following:
- Flagship monster Arkveld and returning monster Gypceros
- The Training Area
- Private lobbies (allowing a maximum of 16 players)
- Online single player
Rewards for taking part in the second Monster Hunter Wilds beta
All players who take part in the Monster Hunter Wilds beta will receive the Open Beta Test Bonus Pendant pictured above, to attach to your hunter. They will also receive the Open Beta 2 Test Bonus Item Pack, which includes the following:
- Raw Meat x 10
- Shock Trap x 3
- Pitball Trap x 3
- Tranq Bomb x 10
- Large Barrel Bomb x 3
- Armor Sphere x 5
- Flash Pod x 10
- Large Dung Pod x 10
The good news is that you can get these rewards as soon as your character is created, so don't worry about any content being unlocked under playtime restrictions. Also, if you played the first open beta, you'll receive an extra item once the full game is released.
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