Pocketpair Grants Day Off for Monster Hunter Wilds Launch After 'Mysterious' Staff Notes

The developer of Palworld, Pocketpair, has generously given its staff a day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. As reported by Automaton, the Japanese studio announced on social media that several employees mysteriously claimed they would be "feeling unwell" on the game's release day, February 28. In a light-hearted response, Pocketpair declared the day a sort of holiday for its team, emphasizing that this gesture would not impact updates on their own games.

Monster Hunter Wilds has made a remarkable debut, achieving 1 million concurrent players on Steam and securing a spot in the platform's top 10 most-played games of all time, surpassing titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite this success, the game has received a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has teased early details about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub.

The launch of Monster Hunter Wilds has had a significant impact worldwide, especially in Japan. One indie developer humorously noted on social media that they hadn't sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds was released. This isn't the first time Pocketpair has shown such support for gaming culture; they previously gave their staff a day off for the release of FromSoftware’s Elden Ring in 2022.

To help you dive into Monster Hunter Wilds, we've compiled resources to enhance your experience. Check out what the game doesn't explicitly tell you, a comprehensive guide to all 14 weapon types, and our ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough. For those interested in multiplayer, we have a guide on playing with friends, and if you participated in the open betas, learn how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character.

IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, praising the game for refining the series' mechanics to deliver enjoyable combat, though noting a lack of significant challenge.