Monster Hunter Wilds will be available in open beta next week. It includes a character creator, two hunts and a full-featured character.

Monster Hunter Wilds won't be available until February 28, 2025. But you can get a sneak peek of it much sooner, next week in fact, with the upcoming open Beta test. This will give players "a limited portion" including character creation and two hunts.

Character creator includes all features available in the full version and allows you to recreate your character as often as you want during the test. If you create something you like, you can import your character along with your palico-like companion into the full version.

The open beta will include a Story Trial mode, which includes the opening cutscene, a Chatacabra Hunt with "basic Tutorials," and a Doshaguma Hunt, where you must snuff out the alpha version of the Doshaguma Pack. Capcom stated that you can "explore the vast area on your Seikret, and switch between different weapon types on-the-fly as you experience the latest hunting action." (Okay, what did he do to you? Sorry to say that the big farting ape won't be at this one.

SOS flares, which can be used to summon up to three helpers, either NPCs, or other players online, to assist you in case things get sticky, are available in both quests. The open beta will indeed support crossplay.

You will also receive a bonus pendant as well as a bonus item pack to use in the full version if you take part in the beta.

As Capcom said, this is a trial. It's a chance for developers to see how the game will perform when everyone is allowed to play. Capcom has warned that the "what happens" could not be entirely positive. The game is still under development and "we cannot guarantee stable gameplay."

And if you do run into problems, that's tough bananas for you, because--understandably--tech support for problems during the beta will not be provided. On October 29, a survey will be open to gather feedback on the new Monster Hunting. You can tell them if you have any problems. It's the whole point, after all.

PlayStation Plus subscribers can access the Monster Hunter Wilds beta on October 28 at 5 pm ET/8pm PT. The rest of us, however, will have to wait until October 31 at the same time. At that point it will be open to Xbox and Steam users as well as non-PSP hunters. The event will conclude at 3:59 PM ET/6:59 PT on November 3, a strangely specific time.