The upcoming Switch 2 port of Monster Hunter Wilds, slated for release on December 5th, required a significant and arduous optimization process from Capcom, according to producer Genki Sunano.
Sunano explained in an interview with Kotaku that the development team's primary goal was to deliver an authentic Monster Hunter Wilds experience on the Switch 2, rather than a scaled-down version. "We didn't want it to feel like a simple port, where the graphics or performance had merely been scaled down to make the game run on Nintendo Switch 2," Sunano stated. The aim was to replicate the experience found on PC and consoles without compromise.
This ambition presented considerable challenges. "It was this painstaking, and at times seemingly endless, process of making decisions and optimisations one by one that proved to be one of our biggest challenges in delivering a comfortable handheld experience while preserving what makes Wilds feel like Wilds," Sunano elaborated. Despite the difficulties, the effort has resulted in a stable 30 frames per second performance in handheld mode, even during demanding multiplayer hunts.
The knowledge gained from optimizing Monster Hunter Wilds for the Switch 2 is expected to benefit future development. Capcom plans to leverage this expertise for performance improvements on existing platforms in preparation for the release of the upcoming expansion, "Ascendance," which is scheduled for 2027. This focus on optimization is part of Capcom's broader strategy to surpass the success of Monster Hunter World.
The Switch 2 version will include all free DLC updates released for the game, along with new monsters and local co-op support. The port aims to evoke the community spirit of earlier Monster Hunter titles on platforms like the PSP and 3DS.