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

The developer of Palworld, Japanese studio Pocketpair, has given its staff the day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds on its official release date, February 28. This decision came after a number of employees humorously claimed they would be "feeling unwell" on the release day. Pocketpair announced this on social media, and while it's a generous gesture, they reassured fans that the development and updates of their own games would not be affected.

Monster Hunter Wilds has enjoyed a phenomenal launch, reaching 1 million concurrent players on Steam and securing a spot in the platform's top 10 most-played games of all time. This impressive debut places it ahead of other best-sellers like Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. However, the game has received a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. In response to player feedback, Capcom has also revealed 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 globally, particularly in Japan. One Japanese indie developer humorously noted on social media that they hadn't sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds was released. Pocketpair's decision to give staff a day off to play new releases is not new; they did the same for FromSoftware's Elden Ring in 2022.

To help you dive into Monster Hunter Wilds, we've compiled essential guides and resources. 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. If you're interested in playing with friends, our multiplayer guide has you covered. For those who participated in the open betas, we also provide instructions on transferring 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 and delivering enjoyable combat, though noting a lack of significant challenge.