Monster Hunter: World introduces a living, breathing ecosystem in which players take on the role of a hunter that seeks and slays ferocious beasts in heart-pounding battles that unfold across the vast ever-changing terrain. Venture on quests alone or with up to three hunters in a newly designed online drop-in multiplayer system which allows cross-region cooperative play between Japan and the west, uniting the player base for the first time ever.

Retaining the series’ skill based progression and robust crafting system, players gear up to venture on quests to seek and slay monsters, progressively improving their skills to become the ultimate hunter. Loot collected from fallen foes can be used to create new equipment and armor upgrades styled after the monsters they’ve slain, allowing hunters to survive the elements and defeat the tougher opponents that await them.

Monster Hunter: World delivers a seamless gameplay experience allowing players to move freely across map areas that comprise the living ecosystems and dynamically transition from day to night. The landscape and its diverse inhabitants play a critical role in each quest as players strategically use the surrounding environment including terrain, vegetation and wildlife to their advantage in battle or become hindered by the hazards they present. Hunters must use their cunning and abilities to track and maneuver their targets throughout the intense, evolving battles.

Capcom confirmed during the Sony PlayStation Showcase at Paris Games Week that a beta for Monster Hunter: World will be available exclusively for PlayStation Plus users starting 9th – 12th December, 2017.

In addition, special Horizon Zero Dawn content featuring Aloy’s bow and full armor set plus Palico armor will be available for Monster Hunter: World exclusively on PS4.

Available starting 9th December, players from around the world can experience three fearsome quests as they join up with other hunters online or take on the beasts alone in the exclusive beta for PlayStation Plus  users. Running for three days, hunters participating in the beta can tackle the hungry Great Jagras, a scavenger capable of swallowing other monsters whole, or the fiery and territorial Anjanath, both of which roam the dense and complex eco-system within the Ancient Forest. For those feeling brave enough they can adventure to the desert land of the Wildspire Waste where the armored Barroth can be found lurking in the muddy waters, waiting to unleash its devastating charge attack.

Horizon Zero Dawn’s young machine hunter Aloy comes to life in Monster Hunter: World for PS4 with Aloy’s bow and full armor set as well as Palico armor that can make the player’s Palico look like a machine from Horizon Zero Dawn. The full armor set will make any player character look like Aloy from head to toe, including facial likeness.  After completing the Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration event quest, which is planned to be distributed to online players post launch, special materials can be obtained to forge collaboration equipment. By bringing the necessary materials to the in-game facility (Smithy), players will be able to forge the Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration equipment.  Details on the exact timing and availability of the Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration quest will be revealed soon.

The latest Monster Hunter: World trailer released at Paris Games Week highlights for the first time the terrifying Rotten Vale area of the New World. Littered with the skeletons of deceased monsters, a land of unique and gigantic creatures awaits amongst this bed of bones. The deeper players journey into the inner layers of the Rotten Vale, the tougher the environment gets with a dangerous and toxic mist blanketing the land obscuring the perils that lurk nearby until the very last minute. The Radobaan, a hulking beast that wears the carcasses scattered around the Vale for armor will need hunters to be quick and fast as they take off chunks of its bone armor and avoid its rolling attacks. Hunters can brave the beast alone or with their team of four hunters. With drop in multiplayer, each hunter has their own story to tell – but will they live to tell it?

With flexible online multiplayer options and an accessible quest structure, players can tackle challenges alone or join up to three other hunters online for cooperative play. For the first time in the Monster Hunter series, players from Japan and the west can play together online, providing an expanded base of cooperative hunting companions. With the new online drop-in functionality, solo players can hail for assistance from the worldwide group during quests when their opponents are too daunting to take on single-handedly.

Monster Hunter: World comes to PS4 and Xbox One in January 26, 2018, with a PC release to follow at a later date.