Palworld Dev Grants Day Off for Monster Hunter Wilds Launch After 'Mysterious' Staff Notes

The developer of Palworld, Japanese studio Pocketpair, has generously given its staff a day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. This decision came after several employees humorously claimed they would be "feeling unwell" on the game's release date, February 28. In a light-hearted response, Pocketpair declared this day a sort of holiday for its team, ensuring fans that this would not impact updates on their own games.

Monster Hunter Wilds has exploded onto the scene, amassing an impressive 1 million concurrent players on Steam. This staggering number has propelled it into the top 10 most-played games of all time on the platform, surpassing heavyweights like Baldur's Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite its popularity, 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 of Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub to enhance player interaction.

The impact of Monster Hunter Wilds is felt worldwide, with a particularly strong effect in Japan. One indie developer humorously noted on social media that they hadn't sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds launched, underscoring the game's dominance in the market. Pocketpair's decision to give staff a day off to play Monster Hunter Wilds is not unprecedented; they did the same for the release of FromSoftware's Elden Ring back in 2022.

For those diving into Monster Hunter Wilds, there's a wealth of resources available to enhance your experience. Check out guides on what the game doesn't tell you, a detailed breakdown of all 14 weapon types, and our ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough. If you're interested in multiplayer, we have a guide on playing with friends. And if you participated in the open betas, learn how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character.

IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, praising the game for refining the series' mechanics in smart ways, resulting in enjoyable combat, though noting a lack of significant challenge.