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.

Subspecies monsters join the roster in Iceborne, offering extreme, twisted variations that amp up the difficulty and require master-level hunting skills to defeat. The latest trailer provides a peek at just two of the ferocious variants that await: the electrifying brute wyvern Fulgur Anjanath channels lightning instead of fire and the fanged wyvern Ebony Odogaron is more vicious than ever with a wider attack range and dragon elemental. In addition to these fearsome subspecies, the fiery Glavenus, whose distinguishable roar was teased in the previous story trailer, wields its sword-like tail to wipe out hunters with its trademark sweep attack.

As part of the cozy new Seliana home base in Hoarfrost Reach, a streamlined Gathering Hub offers a warm welcome for hunting parties with more centralized facilities and features. Built around an interactive hot spring, hunters and Palicoes can conveniently manage all the pre-hunt necessities in close proximity such as the Smithy to craft gear, resource center to manage bounties or botanical research to harvest items. “My Room” is also accessible and features new personalization options such as furniture, décor, and colors, with a post-launch update planned to allow other players to visit each other’s spaces.

Further gameplay options offer additional flexibility for multiplayer hunting parties. A series-first scaling balanced difficulty which will adapt for a two-player team if others have dropped out or if a duo sets out to tackle a quest with their Palicoes in tow. The furry sidekicks will also get upgraded gadgets and new options such as theShieldspire Stooge, a mobile decoy that draws a monster’s attention away from the player, the Meowcano, a giant jar that shoots out fireballs at enemies, and an enhanced Vigorwasp that can revive players immediately back into battle if they faint. New Squad Cards featuring info on the respective team can be sent to invite others to join the group, similar to how Guild Cards for each hunter can be traded individually. Sub-leaders have been added for Squad teams and can share duties on recruiting and accepting team requests.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will be available for PS4 and the Xbox One on September 6, 2019, with a PC release to follow this winter.

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 is currently available for PS4, Xbox One and PC with the Iceborne expansion scheduled for September 6, 2019 on PS4 and Xbox One, a PC release to follow this winter.