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.

A massive, dry expanse with swamplands, this particular area of the New World sees creatures who inhabit the areas adapting to survive.

Monster Hunter: World sees players take on the role of a hunter that completes various quests to hunt and slay monsters within a lively living and breathing eco-system full of predators…. and prey. In the new video you can see some more of the creatures you can expect to come across upon adventuring on your quest. These magnificent beasts include the likes of the Kulu-Ya-Ku, a bird like creature that is often seen stealing other monsters’ eggs from the Ancient Forest and Wildspire Waste.

The giant Barroth is a returning Monster Hunter series favourite and can be found marking its territory with mud as it wanders in search of its favourite snack – ants. Don’t be fooled by its taste for smaller meals though, this creature will charge anyone or anything that invades its territory and only the bravest of hunters can take on the challenge to bring it down.

For those willing hunters attending GamesCom next week, don’t forget to check out the title on the Sony Consumer Booth in Hall 7 and get ready for your first quest to the New World! North American hunters will get their chance to play the game at PAX West in Seattle.

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 Early 2018, with a PC release to follow at a later date.