Monster Hunter Wilds is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4, 2026, but hunters won’t have to wait until launch to try it out. Capcom has announced a free Prologue demo for the upcoming port, giving players an early opportunity to experience the beginning of the adventure when it arrives on October 19.
The demo will let players experience the opening portion of the story, with progress carrying over to the full game for those who decide to purchase it. Local multiplayer will also be supported, although online multiplayer won’t be available in the demo. Digital pre-orders for Monster Hunter Wilds on Nintendo Switch 2 will open through the eShop on the same day.
Set in the unexplored Forbidden Lands, Monster Hunter Wilds follows a Guild expedition investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding a young boy named Nata, who escaped his village after a monster attack. As players venture into this uncharted territory, they’ll encounter a world shaped by constantly changing environments, with shifting weather conditions affecting the behaviour of its inhabitants.
Hunters will need to adapt their tactics as they track and battle powerful monsters, gathering materials to forge new weapons and armour along the way. With its dynamic environments, evolving hunting mechanics, and a story centred on the relationship between humans and monsters, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release will give players another way to experience Capcom’s latest entry in the long-running series.
The free Prologue demo arrives on October 19, ahead of Monster Hunter Wilds launching on Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4, 2026.