Pocketpair Grants Day Off for Monster Hunter Wilds Launch Following 'Mysterious' Staff Notes

The developer of Palworld, Japanese studio Pocketpair, has generously given its staff the day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. As reported by Automaton, the studio received several "mysterious" notices from employees who claimed they would "probably be feeling unwell" on the game's release day, February 28. Embracing the spirit of the occasion, Pocketpair declared this day a sort of holiday for its staff. While this gesture is undoubtedly appreciated, the company ensured fans that their game updates would remain unaffected.

Monster Hunter Wilds has made an explosive entrance into the gaming world, boasting 1 million concurrent players on Steam and securing a spot in the platform's top 10 most-played games of all time. This achievement places it ahead of popular titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite this success, the game has received a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has teased early details about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub for players.

The launch of Monster Hunter Wilds has had a significant global impact, particularly in Japan. Automaton highlighted a humorous social media post from a Japanese indie developer who claimed not to have sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds' release. This isn't the first time Pocketpair has shown such support for gaming culture; they previously gave their staff a day off to play 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 tell you, a comprehensive guide to all 14 weapon types, and our ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough. For those interested in multiplayer, we have a detailed guide on how to play with friends. If you participated in one of the open betas, learn how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, stating, "Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge."