Get ready, hunters: the second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta kicks off on February 6, 2025, offering players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S a final chance to dive into the game’s vast hunting grounds before its official launch later that month. This two-phase beta, running from February 6-9 and February 13-16, promises new monsters like the Gypceros and full crossplay support, making it the ultimate warm-up for the epic battles ahead.
While previously there was a staggered rollout starting with PS5 owners, this time all platforms can play from the off, and for those who can’t play over the first set of dates, you can jump into a second test weekend one week later. In other words – this open beta just became more open.
For those who did check into the first beta, there are two additional monsters to hunt and new set of beta rewards as an incentive to revisit.
Here’s how to access the second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta onPlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC, including start and end times, as well as how it all works.
Update (Feb. 10): Due to a PlayStation Network outage over the first weekend, the second weekend has been granted a 24-hour extension.
Monster Hunter Wilds beta 2 dates
The second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta is scheduled to run in two sessions: from February 6 to 9, 2025, and from February 13 to 16, 2025. Both periods start at 7 PM Pacific Time and end at 6:59 PM Pacific Time on the respective end dates. This beta is open to all platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, and features crossplay. Players can expect to test advanced hunting mechanics, face a new monster called the Gypceros, and carry over their characters and progress to the full game releasing on February 28, 2025. Preloading for the beta begins 24 hours before each session starts, allowing players to download the client in advance.
The second Monster Hunter Wilds’s open beta takes place across two weekends in early February, and unlike the first test, is available on all platforms right away.
The Monster Hunter Wilds beta 2 dates in North America are as follows:
- Thursday, Feb. 6, to Sunday, Feb. 9 (concluded)
- Thursday, Feb. 13, to Monday, Feb. 17
Since it’s a global launch, for those in Europe and Japan, add a day to the start and end dates listed above, and/or use the following times to know exactly when you can start playing in your region.
Note that the second weekend was originally set to also end on a Sunday, but due to a PlayStation Network outage that limited playtime in the opening phase of the beta, Twitter an extension of 24 hours.
Monster Hunter Wilds beta 2 start time and end time in your time zone
The second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta starts on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 7 PM Pacific Time (PT) and ends on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 6:59 PM PT. This beta will run again the following weekend from Thursday, February 13, 7 PM PT to Sunday, February 16, 6:59 PM PT. Players can convert these times to their local time zones-for example, it starts at 10 PM Eastern Time (ET) in North America, 3 AM GMT in the UK, 4 AM CET in Europe, and 12 PM JST in Japan. This schedule allows players worldwide to join the beta during convenient hours in their respective regions.
The second weekend of Monster Hunter Wilds open beta 2 starts at the following times in your time zone:
- 7 p.m. PST for the west coast of North America (on Thursday, Feb. 13)
- 10 p.m. EST for the east coast of North America (on Thursday, Feb. 13)
- 4 a.m. CET for western Europe/Paris (the following day on Friday, Feb. 14)
- 3 a.m. GMT for the U.K. (the following day on Friday, Feb. 14)
- 12 p.m. JST in Japan/Tokyo (the following day on Friday, Feb. 14)
The above times are also when each period will end – so for those in North America, it’ll end on Monday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST.
As with all betas, be patient when encountering any possible server issues, and also be aware what’s in the test may not be fully representative of the full game, something Capcom itself has been open about.
“Our entire development team is hard at work reviewing your valuable feedback and focusing on improving the full version of the game,” Capcom wrote in a statement. “However, please bear in mind that these improvements, including performance, game balance, weapon mechanics, known issues and more will not be reflected in the OBT 2 build.”
How to access Monster Hunter Wilds’s open beta on PS5, Xbox, and PC
To access the second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, simply visit your platform’s storefront-PlayStation Store, Xbox Game Store, or Steam-and download the open beta client. No sign-ups, pre-orders, or beta keys are required. Preloading will be available 24 hours before the beta starts on each platform, allowing you to prepare ahead of time. The beta is free and open to all players, providing full access to character creation and early game content. It runs in two sessions in February 2025, and all platforms have crossplay enabled for multiplayer hunting.
The start of the Monster Hunter Wilds’s open beta is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. On console, a subscription to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass is not necessary.
You don’t need a pre-order, sign-up, or beta key to get access – simply head to your platform’s storefront and download the open beta client.
A pre-load will be available 24 hours ahead of each platform’s start time, meaning you can start playing as soon as the test begins.
What’s featured in the second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta?
The second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta features a range of content including the full character creation tool, the introductory story trial, and hunts against monsters like Doshaguma and the returning Gypceros, a poisonous bird wyvern from the series’ first game. Additionally, it introduces the flagship monster Arkveld, also known as the White Wraith, which adds a new challenge for players. The beta also offers access to the training area, private lobby creation for group hunts, and an online single-player mode. Participants can earn exclusive rewards such as the Open Beta Test Bonus Pendant and a special consumable item pack. Characters created during the beta will carry over to the full game releasing on February 28, 2025.
The Monster Hunter Wilds open beta will feature the following:
- Opening of the story, including the Chatacabra tutorial hunt
- The Doshaguma hunt encounter
- The Gypceros hunt encounter (new to the second beta)
- The Arkveld “advanced” hunt encounter (new to the second beta)
- A weapons training area in the base camp (new to the second beta)
- The character and palico creator, which can be taken forward to the full game
- Multiplayer support through SOS flares (which works cross-platform), with the addition of private lobbies and Online Single Player mode support in the second beta
You can read more about this opening few hours of the game with our hands-on preview that made AELGAMES’s own Michael McWhertor “a believer in its ecosystem.” As well as the above, there are also rewards to unlock.
Monster Hunter Wilds second open beta rewards
The second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta offers players exclusive rewards for participating, including the Open Beta Test Bonus Pendant to attach to your hunter and a generous item pack. This pack contains Raw Meat, Shock Traps, Pitfall Traps, Tranq Bombs, Large Barrel Bombs, Armor Spheres, Flash Pods, and Large Dung Pods, providing a strong head start for the full game. Players receive these rewards immediately upon character creation, with no need to unlock content through playtime. Additionally, those who took part in the first beta will get an extra item pack when the full game launches. Note that rewards are platform-specific and cannot be transferred across different platforms.
By participating in the second open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds, you’ll claim two rewards to take into the full game upon release:
- “Stuffed Felyne Teddy“ Pendant (cosmetic item – same reward as from the first open beta)
- Open Beta Test 2 Bonus Item Pack (featuring 10 Raw Meat, 3 Shock Trap, 3 Pitball Trap, 10 Tranq Bomb, 3 Large Barrel Bomb, 5 Armor Sphere, 10 Flash Pod, and 10 Large Dung Pod)
The requirement for unlocking these is simply creating a character, which is then imported into the full game – so provided you do that, regardless of how much you then play, the above rewards are yours. As such, an online connection is required for these elements to carry over.
What new content can I expect in Monster Hunter Wilds open beta 2
In Monster Hunter Wilds open beta 2, players can expect a wealth of new content alongside returning features from the first beta. New hunts include battling the flagship monster Arkveld and the returning fan-favorite Gypceros, both unlocked after completing the Doshaguma Hunt quest. The beta also introduces a Training Area for solo practice with all weapon types, where players automatically revive and consumables are not consumed. Private lobbies supporting up to 16 players are now available, allowing for more controlled multiplayer sessions. Additionally, an online single-player mode lets players explore the world solo with the ability to pause and call for help via SOS flares. Character creation is fully accessible and transferable to the full game, and participants will earn exclusive in-game rewards such as the Open Beta Test Pendant and Bonus Item Pack for use in the final release.
What new monsters and quests are exclusive to Beta 2
The second Monster Hunter Wilds open beta introduces two exclusive new hunts: the flagship monster Arkveld and the returning fan-favorite Gypceros. These quests become available after completing the Doshaguma Hunt, adding fresh challenges for veteran and new hunters alike. Arkveld appears in a high-difficulty advanced quest designed to test player skills, while Gypceros brings its signature blinding flash attacks and tricky evasions back into the fray.
