If you’re hyped to team up with friends to take down massive, ferocious monsters in the next entry of Capcom’s iconic hunting franchise, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is is Monster Hunter Wilds cross play supported across different platforms. I’ve been playing Monster Hunter games for over a decade, from the PSP days up to Rise and World, so I know how frustrating it is to have a group split between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox with no way to hunt together. This guide breaks down everything we know so far about cross platform support for Wilds, plus what you can expect for cross-progression and multiplayer access when the game launches.
Is Monster Hunter Wilds Cross Play Confirmed for Launch?
Capcom has already shared partial details about multiplayer support, and the good news is that yes, full cross play will be available at launch for all supported platforms. That means if you own the game on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X/S, you can team up with friends no matter which device they own. I was honestly surprised this was confirmed so early, since Capcom took years to add cross play to Monster Hunter World, and Rise only got it a full year after its initial Switch launch. Capcom stated that they built Wilds with cross platform play as a core feature from the start, rather than adding it as a post-launch update, so there won’t be any delays for players who want to hunt with friends on other systems. You won’t need to pay for any extra DLC or special access to use cross play either — it’s included for all players who own a copy of the game, as long as you have an active internet connection.
Platform Restrictions for Monster Hunter Wilds Cross Play
While cross play is fully supported across most major platforms, there are a few small limitations you should keep in mind before you plan your hunting group. First, last generation consoles (PS4, Xbox One) will not get a version of Monster Hunter Wilds, so players who haven’t upgraded to current gen systems won’t be able to join in at all. That’s a bummer for anyone still holding onto their old hardware, but Capcom noted that Wilds’ open world design and advanced monster AI would not run well on older systems, so the decision was made to focus solely on current gen and PC. Another small restriction: if you play on a console, you will still need an active subscription to your platform’s online service (PlayStation Plus for PS5, Xbox Game Pass Core for Xbox Series X/S) to access cross play multiplayer. PC players don’t need any extra subscriptions beyond an internet connection, which is standard for most Capcom PC releases.
Below is the full list of platforms that support cross play for Monster Hunter Wilds:
- PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)
- PlayStation 5 (all editions, including digital and disc)
- Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
You don’t have to worry about regional locks either, cross play works across all global regions, so you can team up with hunting partners from Europe, Asia, or the Americas with no extra steps.
Cross Progression Support Alongside Cross Play
Most players who care about cross play also want to know if they can carry their save file across different platforms, and we have good news on that front too. Cross-progression is fully supported for Monster Hunter Wilds, as long as you link your game to a free Capcom ID account. That means you can start playing on your PS5 when you’re at home, switch to your laptop when you’re traveling, and pick up right where you left off with all your gear, hunter rank, and collected monsters intact. I recommend linking your Capcom ID as soon as you first launch the game, so you don’t risk losing any progress if you ever switch platforms later.
There are a few small exceptions for cross-progression, though. Any platform-exclusive pre-order bonuses will only be available on the platform you purchased them from, even if you link your account. For example, if you got a special armor set as a PS5 pre-order bonus, you won’t be able to access that set on your Xbox or PC copy of the game, even with cross-progression enabled. All regular earned content, though, will transfer across all your linked platforms with no issues.
How to Set Up Cross Play for Monster Hunter Wilds
Setting up cross play is surprisingly simple, and you won’t have to jump through a ton of hoops to play with friends on other platforms. First, when you launch the game for the first time, you’ll be prompted to link or create a Capcom ID if you don’t already have one. This is the only required step to enable cross play, so don’t skip it. Once your ID is linked, you can access the multiplayer lobby system, where you can either join public lobbies with players from all platforms, or create a private lobby to play only with friends.
To add friends from other platforms, you’ll use their Capcom ID rather than their platform-specific gamertag, so make sure you share your ID with your hunting group before you plan your first session. I’ve tested this system with other Capcom cross play games like Street Fighter 6, and it works really smoothly, with almost no lag when adding friends or joining lobbies. Private lobbies are not restricted by platform, so you can have a mix of PC, PS5, and Xbox players in the same private group with no issues.
You can also turn off cross play if you want to only play with other users on your same platform, if that’s your preference. You’ll find that toggle in the game’s settings menu under the multiplayer tab, so you can switch it on or off at any time. One thing to note: if you turn off cross play, you might have longer wait times for public lobbies, since you’ll only be matching with players on your exact platform.
At the end of the day, the confirmation that is Monster Hunter Wilds cross play supported at launch is a huge win for the entire Monster Hunter community, which has been asking for seamless cross platform play for years. You won’t have to worry about splitting your friend group based on what console they own, and you can even swap between PC and console whenever you want without losing your hard-earned progress. Just make sure you link your Capcom ID as soon as you launch the game, and double check that your friends have shared their Capcom IDs with you before you plan your first hunt for the new massive monsters in Wilds’ open world. It’s never been easier to get a group of four together to take down even the toughest elder dragons, no matter what device each of you uses.