Capcom releases free Monster Hunter Wilds demo, price $39.99

Capcom has released a substantial free demo for its action role-playing game Monster Hunter Wilds, available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The "Prologue" demo offers offline access to the game's opening hours, including the first three chapters of the story, full character creation, and all 14 weapon types. Players can transfer their save data from the demo to the full version on the same platform.

The demo's release coincides with a permanent price reduction for the base game, which is now priced at $39.99 across all digital storefronts. Capcom has also introduced a new "Gold Edition" bundle priced at $79.99, which includes the base game and all currently available downloadable cosmetic content. This new bundle has generated controversy among some players who previously purchased higher-priced editions, as they are not receiving discounts for the newly bundled DLC they may already own.

The demo and pricing moves are seen as efforts to attract new players and bolster the game's community ahead of the planned release of a major expansion titled Ascendance in 2027. Described as comparable to past expansions like Iceborne and Sunbreak, Ascendance is...