If it follows the same pattern as Monster Hunter Rise on PC and then PlayStation and Xbox consoles, then you can most likely expect it to release sometime early next year. That would also mean a staggered release for Ascendance, which is out next year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

However, it’s worth noting that Capcom has been working on the Nintendo Switch 2 port for some time. Dataminers first reported this as far back as January, noting low-graphics options and 30 FPS performance with DLSS on the platform. It also reportedly supports wireless local multiplayer. Take all this with a grain of salt, however, since plans may very well have changed during development.

Either way, Switch 2 players will finally get their chance to enter the Forbidden Lands with its massive locales, changing weather, and brand-new monsters. Despite lacking much by way of end-game content at launch, Wilds has since expanded with threats like Gogmazios, Arch-tempered Monsters, and much more.

As for Ascendance, you can learn more about its new locale, the Skybound Eyrie, and the Boost Bracer here.

The duo confirmed that Master Rank quests are being added with the expansion, available after finishing “Awakening From a Dream,” a 7-star Assignment that involves slaying Arkveld in the base game. Monsters will be tougher, but you have the new Boost Bracer to even the odds. It adds new skills for each weapon type and will “temporarily boost actions, such as attacks, combos, and mobility, allowing for more versatility in hunts,” per Hiraoka.

Don’t worry, though, as there will also be new actions and combos that won’t require it. Speaking of the new locale, it’s called the Skybound Eyrie – a series of floating ruins which you can glide between using the Sekiret. You’ll discover other unique environmental features, though it remains to be seen how the weather system will affect the endemic life and resources.

Finally, Hiraoka talked about the expansion’s name, Ascendance. It doesn’t simply mean continually moving up and advancing through the new locale, but also signifies Capcom taking all of Wilds’ components to the next level. And while the story may have an Elder Dragon at the center, it apparently concerns all of them in some deeper manner.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

But there’s a disturbance of sorts that invites the Hunters to investigate. Don’t worry, it’s not even trying to hide the fact that an Elder Dragon is responsible. A few new monsters are showcased, but you’ll also have to deal with some returning foes, including Kushala Daora. At the end, the iconic Lao Shan Lung is also seemingly teased – his first appearance as a target since Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

Some new gameplay elements were also showcased, including a new gauntlet that you can rev up, Red Queen-style, to augment your attacks. There’s also a new gadget for pelting monsters from afar with bullets. How these will impact the current wounds system remains to be seen, but neither is the Clutch Claw and are thus automatically better as a result.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance launches next year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Capcom said it would reveal more details later this Summer, so expect a new Monster Hunter Digital Showcase at some point.

Following State of Play, it’s the Summer of Gaming with one major showcase after another, starting with the Summer Game Fest showcase on June 5th. It’s followed by the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6th and a double feature on June 7th with the Xbox Games Showcase and PC Gaming Show. There’s also the possibility of a new Nintendo Direct to outline what’s coming this year (and potentially beyond), but here are our picks for some of the biggest announcements that you could see, and it all begins with the return of a beloved franchise…

Gears of War: E-Day Release Date

Say what you will about XBOX, all caps or not, they know that fans are hungry for more Gears of War. Hence, the dedicated Direct for E-Day will feature its first-ever gameplay and other details. Since it’s allegedly out in the second half of 2026, all eyes are on The Coalition to finally announce a release date, which is looking to be September based on recently announced sponsorships. Either way, it’s been far too long without the king of cover-based shooters, and we’re looking forward to beginning the fight anew.

Fable’s “Major New Look”

Now, this one is interesting, especially since XBOX has already confirmed a delay to February 2027. So what could this “major new look” hold? Perhaps a walkthrough of a quest? The return of a beloved character? Showcasing the extent of consequences that are possible with increasingly hilarious results? It may end up just showcasing another well-known British actor in the game, but hey, we’ll take it if there’s solid gameplay.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Release Date

Halo Studios has been rather mum on this remake, which is odd for several reasons. Yes, it recently confirmed there’s no in-game store, but… that’s pretty much it. There’s been no new gameplay since its reveal at the last Halo World Championship, and it’s reportedly launching next month. Will marketing kick into overdrive after the showcase? Time will tell, but from every angle, it seems fans won’t have to wait long to go hands-on.

Phantom Blade Zero Gets New Trailer

Launching in September, being in the “intense, final stages of development” according to the developer, only one other big showcase until its launch – if ever there was a time to start marketing for Phantom Blade Zero, it would be at Summer Game Fest. As always, the question of what could be showcased always pops up – obviously, you want to get the people excited without spoiling too much. Alternatively, if S-Game wanted to drop that demo promised long ago, next week wouldn’t be the worst occasion to do so.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 3

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said that marketing won’t begin until Summer, clarifying that it won’t be for another few weeks. However, it doesn’t exclude the possibility of a new trailer, and it certainly doesn’t stop Rockstar from opening pre-orders. Could it stop short of the latter and release a new teaser, hyping up a reveal in the coming weeks? Sure. Does it need to do it at any of the upcoming showcases? Probably not, but it would be cool. Either way, expect to hear a lot more about the title this month, even if it’s when you least expect it.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Release Date

We’ve seen more than enough gameplay, know more than enough the story – so if the long-awaited Onimusha revival doesn’t get a launch date at some point in the coming days, I may lose it. Granted, the developer could always pull the patented, “Tune in to the Online Special Program later in June for more,” but like Pragmata at last year’s The Game Awards, it’s probably just going to cut through the noise and announce a date with pre-orders.

Monster Hunter Wilds Expansion Reveal

Now this is a classic example of potentially debuting a trailer and revealing more information later. Monster Hunter Wilds’ expansion is confirmed to receive more details this Summer, and given the franchise’s history at Keighley’s shows, a title reveal seems very likely. We could then see a proper Monster Hunter Showcase next month or in September, right before the so-called Summer period ends.

OD Update

It’s been a year since Hideo Kojima took the Summer Game Fest stage, promoting Death Stranding 2. With how close he is to Keighley, and the fact that there hasn’t been any update on its next title, OD, since September 2025, a new teaser would hardly be surprising. Then again, since Xbox Game Studios is the publisher, it may even appear at the upcoming Xbox Showcase. The real question is: Will Kojima attend both? It’s certainly not impossible, even if it would be excessive.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Release Date Reveal (or Delay)

It really doesn’t hit you just how many games could be released between June and October, simply to avoid “competing” – which is already a strong word – against Grand Theft Auto 6. I’m not sure that Amazon Game Studios would want to take the risk, even after announcing a 2026 release window, and rumors of a delay to 2027 may feed into that. An appearance certainly seems on the cards, but for now, it’s a toss-up on whether it launches this year or next.

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica Remake Announcement

Rumors have circulated about this remake since June 2024. Resident Evil Requiem was announced in June 2025, at the Summer Game Fest no less. With a supposed launch in the first half of 2027, odds are looking good that Resident Evil could steal the show once more with the long-awaited Code: Veronica Remake. Get your “welcome back, Claire Redfield” signs ready in advance.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads Reveal

Call it a mistake, an accident or just an honest-to-goodness leak, the new Virtua Fighter’s gameplay has seemingly leaked. The final name is apparently Virtua Fighter Crossroads, and admittedly, it looks quite good. Is Sega saving the announcement for a big show like Summer Game Fest, especially since it was announced at The Game Awards 2024? Possibly – it’s not like there’s any other shows it could fit in.

Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition Announcement

Add another game to the potential Nintendo Direct, as Sega seeks to bring Sonic Frontiers to Nintendo Switch 2 at long last. While previous rumors suggested a rewritten story, the Definitive Edition is allegedly closer to a standard port, complete with all updates, except that it should run better than the Switch 1 version. Again, if it’s indeed real, expect an announcement and release date soon.

Metro 2039 Gets More Gameplay

After its surprising reveal and the even more surprising First Look, Metro 2039 seems poised to appear at the Xbox Games Showcase. Not for the sake of filling up time, mind you – rather, to showcase more of the horrors that players will allegedly face. I’m skeptical about a release date, especially since 4A Games still has time to narrow things down – and decide whether it wants to fall on the 2026 or 2027 side of its Winter release window – but stranger things have happened at an Xbox show.

State of Decay 3 Gameplay and Updates

Meet one of the stranger things. I know, I know – Undead Labs is conducting closed tests, and it’s seemingly making progress after years and years of nothing. And while it could outright say “2027” as a release window, something tells me the team will simply provide new gameplay, an update from recent tests, and the assurance of providing more opportunities in the coming months. Playing things safe before it really decides to commit to something.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Release Date

Launching this Summer and already unveiling everything that sets it apart from the original, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 seems like a lock for Summer Game Fest. A release date seems a given, but it feels like something else is needed – a little je ne sais quoi. Maybe a brand new big bad that would replace the Queen as a major threat? Hard to say, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it arrives as soon as next month.

Valor Mortis Release Date

A first-person Souls-like set in an alternate 19th-century Europe focused on fighting Napoleon’s zombie soldiers after returning from the dead, developed by the team behind Ghostrunner 2? Sign us up, and more importantly, give us a release date, since it’s already confirmed for Fall. That may end up closer to October than November for the obvious reason, but I’m more interested to see if a demo or open beta ends up happening, especially with all the closed testing done so far.

Ananta Trailer and Launch Window

Geoff Keighley’s showcases have a thing for games – see the frequent appearances by ZZZ, Honkai: Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, and, more recently, Arknights Endfield. Ananta is interesting because it’s foregoing a character system while retaining the urban open-world fantasy we’ve seen thus far. It may not launch this year, but with most of its competition, particularly NTE, already released, a new trailer at least seems a given.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Release Date

What should have been rated recently by PEGI, but Bandai Namco’s next Ace Combat? Smarter minds will probably be able to tell you why its pre-release date is May 30th on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, but it’s further proof of a potential release announcement. And honestly, with how good Wings of Theve has looked, both the first-person cutscenes and the actual combat, we’re hoping it drops sooner than later.

The Duskbloods Release Month

Say what you will about its recent multiplayer focus – FromSoftware generally does a good job convincing millions to try its next game, regardless. The same will hopefully hold for The Duskbloods, and with rumors of a launch later this year (and not this Summer, apparently), it could appear at that alleged Nintendo Direct set for mid-June. Maybe Elden Ring Tarnished Edition will be shadow-dropped in the meantime.

New 3D Mario Announcement

Nintendo isn’t above announcing big names a good while before they actually launch – just as it has no qualms holding back finished titles, waiting for the right launch window. And with insider NateTheHate claiming that a new 3D Mario would be announced for 2027, that supposed mid-June Direct isn’t the worst place to announce it, especially after the success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Pokémon Wind and Waves Release Window

Perhaps one of the safest possible bets for the Direct is the release date announcement for Pokémon Wind and Waves, especially with listings spotted on Amazon Germany. If it follows, say, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, then January/February 2027 aren’t outside the realm of possibility. Again, a safe bet, unless Nintendo goes in another direction (like saving the info for a Pokémon Showcase in July).

Hollow Knight: Silksong — Sea of Sorrow Gameplay

Geoff Keighley loves his Silksong teases, but that was for one of the most-anticipated games of all time. What are the chances the trend repeats at this year’s show, revealing the first gameplay for Sea of Sorrow, its free DLC? Probably low, but don’t forget about XBOX – they’ve featured Silksong on numerous occasions, and would probably jump at the opportunity to feature the title on their showcase, complete with a release date.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra Update

Game delays can be funny, especially when something like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra – the next big game from Uncharted creator Amy Hennig – announced a delay beyond early 2026. That doesn’t mean 2027, but at this rate, with very little to actually show for it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it appears with a new trailer confirming it’s skipping 2026 entirely. Which is fine, but you’d have to expect a closer look at the game at some point.

Star Wars Zero Company Release Date/Delay

Star Wars crossed with XCOM sounds like a dream come true, and based on previews, it makes for an excellent tactical strategy experience. But there’s otherwise been relative silence – not even a peep during this year’s May the 4th. If it’s meeting that 2026 release window, then a new trailer at either the Xbox Games Showcase or Summer Games Fest is possible. Then again, EA could choose not to foot the bill and just drop these details at some random time.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Title Reveal

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was first announced during the original’s 25th Anniversary Celebration livestream in June 2022. So close enough to the Summer of Gaming at the time, but still nothing. However, its gameplay trailer would appear at the Summer Game Fest in 2023, followed by another trailer at The Game Awards, and so on. With director Naoki Hamaguchi already claiming more than 40 playthroughs and promising to share more updates on the overall project than ever before this year, a Part 3 reveal – if not a release window, then perhaps its name – seems very likely.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Release Date

Oh, look – another game that appeared at last year’s Summer Game Fest with a release window of 2026. Asobo Studio offered a substantial update last April, confirming “final tweaks, last recording sessions, the closing notes of the score,” and much more as it focuses on refining the prequel. It’s been four years since A Plague Tale: Requiem, yet the developer is focused on delivering “an experience as challenging as it is unforgettable.” We could thus see Resonance appearing next week to announce a delay to next year, if only to allow it to shine all the brighter.

Palworld 1.0 Release Date

With all the big announcements, I think back to Palworld, which exited early access this year. Pocketpair already said that Version 1.0 wouldn’t just be randomly revealed on Discord, and it has a history of featuring on these big shows. So what better time to reveal all the new content and a release date than Summer Game Fest, with further info dumps planned for the coming months? Again, there’s kind of a time limit given the elephant in the room called GTA 6, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Pocketpair decides on January 2027 of all months.

Nivalis Release Window

At this time, developer ION LANDS posted a new update for its cyberpunk restaurant management title, going over level design, visuals, how it’s handling simulating thousands of characters, and so on. However, one little bit stood out – the shift towards “final polish” ahead of release. From bug fixes to localization and optimization, the team has been busy. It will share a release date when it’s ready, so a shadow drop seems unlikely, but at this stage, a release date still seems very possible, especially in the coming week.

Light No Fire Appearance

Of all the studios and publishers sweating about November and finding the right days to release their titles, Hello Games has it made. No Man’s Sky continues to succeed, and it continues to receive quality free updates that deepen the experience. So when it comes to Light No Fire, a small teaser could be released at Summer Game Fest with very little context, much less a release window, and stand out. And if no one wants to feature an indie title that simply wants to remind people that it still exists, well, that’s alright then, because development will roll on until something concrete. The point is, at the end of it all, Sean continues to hold all the cards.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Release Date

As if its first-party line-up for the coming months wasn’t enough, Mojang’s Minecraft Dungeons 2 is also launching in 2026. It’s not a huge title by any means, but the original had 25 million players, so the prospect of new locations and a brand new threat could be appealing…and you just know it’s going to be at the Xbox Games Showcase, showcasing its various new zones that totally weren’t leaked a year ago.

“With the latest PSSR update, Silent Hill f now delivers an even smoother gameplay experience than before,” said Konami’s production team. “Fine details – from swaying blades of grass to shadows cast across the ground – are rendered with greater clarity, deepening immersion in the fog-shrouded Japan of the 1960s.” A short new trailer highlights the difference between the current PSSR and its upgraded version with the latter pretty much eliminating any flickering.

Ninja Theory head, Dom Matthews, noted the team’s excitement to collaborate with Sony while also being impressed by “the quality of particle effects with this latest update, helping to bring key gameplay moments to life through enhanced visuals.” Remedy’s graphical technical director, Tatu Aalto, also noted how the improved image upscaling resulted in “efficient stochastic sampling without sacrificing image stability” and how it “responds quickly to visibility changes in games, keeping motion clear while improving temporal stability.” The result is even “better, more stable image quality” in Control and Alan Wake 2.

Those worried that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on consoles would never fully depict the beauty of its characters’ hairstyles should also rejoice. Director Naoki Hamaguchi notes how “fine details such as character’s hair are naturally restored.” Of course, “less flickering and afterimage feeling” is also a bonus. You can also expect sharper edges for wildlife scenery in Nioh 3, whether it’s foliage or various flowers.

And while Capcom didn’t provide any additional comments on the technology, it will be available for Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon’s Dogma 2. Resident Evil Requiem was the first title that leveraged Upgraded PSSR, and the results have been quite stunning thus far. Stay tuned for more details on other titles that will implement it in the coming weeks.

For starters, you get to take on a 10-star Zoh Shia, a powered-up variant of the Guardian from the new Hope of the Ancients Event Quest. While it isn’t Arch-Tempered as we expected, it’s still going to keep you on your toes, according to this announcement from Capcom. This one’s going live on March 4, 2026.

Next up is another 10-star foe to fight, with Gogmazios, the Specter of War, coming back stronger than ever on March 12, 2026. It’s going to be a challenge to bring this one down, and you’re not going to get any support from other Hunters like you did the first time you faced old Gog down.

There are also special collaborations that are going to yield some really stylish gear for you, fashion fans out there. A new gear set based on themes from Universal Japan Studios is going to make your Hunter stand out, while there’s a new chef in the Grand Hub who you might find familiar. There’s also a 10-star Rompopalo to take on, with the developers noting that this one needed a reason for more Hunters to try battling it.

All in all, it looks like Monster Hunter Wilds is going to have a busy month ahead as Capcom continues to work on its expansion. A Switch 2 version remains as elusive as ever, though.

The image involves a group of in-game characters playing Monster Hunter Wilds together on their Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. While far from an official confirmation by any stretch, the image is likely meant to showcase how wireless local multiplayer can be used with Monster Hunter Wilds for some quick co-op hunts. The characters themselves aren’t really discernible since we can only see their hands; at least one of them seems to be a hunter, and another one is a Palico.

Reports of a Nintendo Switch 2 port for Monster Hunter Wilds first started popping up back in January, when a datamine for Title Update 4 revealed numerous references to the console. One function, named “via.store.Native.nsw2UpgradeEdition,” was the biggest hint, with the “nsw2” likely being shorthand for Nintendo Switch 2. A variety of other text strings were also found with references to local multiplayer.

The datamine also revealed new asset culling methods that were likely in place to improve performance on the Nintendo Switch 2. The spawn rates for endemic life were also noticeably lower, coming in at around a fifth of the rate compared to the other versions. We saw this culling feature make its way to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S with the most recent update for Monster Hunter Wilds, which also brought in Arch-tempered Arkveld as its main attraction, as well as a side mission that ties in with the story of the upcoming Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.

Another report has indicated that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds will run at 30 frames per second with DLSS enabled. When docked, the “Graphics Mode” option will apparently only output video at 1080p. Interestingly, this mode’s shadow quality was seemingly higher than what you would find on the PC version’s “Very Low” preset.

Other interesting tidbits discovered in the latest datamine indicate that Gogmazios and Zoh Shia might get Tempered versions. While no further details have been uncovered so far, the Tempered versions of these two monsters would likely represent the highest tier challenge possible in Monster Hunter Wilds right now, aside from Title Update 3’s Savage Omega Planetes.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and despite several technical issues, has managed to perform well for Capcom with 11 million copies sold as of December 31st. Monster Hunter Rise and Sunbreak also saw growth in sales figures, with the entire franchise having crossed the 33 million units sold milestone.

Weighing in at 13 GB on PS5, 16 GB on Xbox Series X/S, and 15 GB on PC (18 GB with the High Resolution Texture Pack), the update also brings in a new collaboration quest that ties in with the story of the upcoming Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. It requires players to have reached at least Hunter Rank 9. Check out full details in the patch notes below.

The update was announced earlier this month, where Capcom also confirmed that the Festival of Accord will start cycling every week. Starting the cycle on February 18th will be Blossomdance, followed by Flamefete on February 25th, Dreamspell on March 4th, and Lumenhymn on March 12th. Through this cycle, players will be able to catch up on any seasonal event quests that they might have missed in the past.

While things might be winding down for Monster Hunter Wilds for the time being, Capcom has also confirmed that development has started on a “large-scale” expansion. Series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto compared the scope of this expansion with Monster Hunter World‘s Iceborne and Monster Hunter Rise‘s Sunbreak, both of which introduced Master Rank quests to their respective titles along with massively growing their roster of monsters.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review of the game’s launch version.

Monster Hunter Wilds Version 1.041.00.00 patch notes:

Major Additions and Changes

Monsters

• Arch-tempered Arkveld has been added as a permanent Event Quest.
• New 10★ difficulty quests have been added as permanent event quests for the following monsters: Arch-tempered Rey Dau, Arch-tempered Uth Duna, Arch-tempered Nu Udra, and Arch-tempered Jin Dahaad.

Player

• New equipment and pendants have been added.

Story Progression

• Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Special Collaboration side mission “A Royal Request” has been added. This side mission will become available after reaching HR 9+.
• New side mission “Love for a Hero” has been added. This side mission will become available after completing the extra mission “Ghosts Pay No Heed to Tomorrow” and then talking to Nadia and Mina.

Bases and Facilities

• Added a new feature to the Melding Pot that allows you to meld Gogma materials.
• Added a new feature that allows you to earn random ingredients at the Ingredient Center after reaching HR 9.
• New Appraisal Items called “Timeworn Charms” have been added to quest rewards. (No changes have been made to the attributes of Talismans earned. Chances of receiving Talismans with high rarity are increased when using Timeworn Charms.)
• Increased the maximum number of Pop-Up Camps for the Windward Plains, the Scarlet Forest, and the Oilwell Basin. (This will be unlocked by talking to the Pop-up Camp Meowster or the Support Desk after completing the assignment “Germination”.)
• Added an option to the Barrel Bowling results screen that allows you to retry immediately. An option has also been added that allows you to use 10 Barrel Bowling Vouchers and receive all rewards at once.
• Adjusted the parameters of the Blossom Barrel Bombs used in Barrel Bowling to behave differently from the Large Barrel Bombs used out in the field. In accordance with this adjustment, new placement patterns have also been added.
• Reduced the waiting time between throws in Barrel Bowling, so that players can throw the second barrel while the results of the first throw are still being displayed.

System

• Reduced CPU/GPU processing and made adjustments to lower the load on the game.
• Added internal Levels of Detail (LOD) for 3D models, adjusting them to display optimal quality based on the situation to reduce GPU load.
• Optimized monster and endemic life spawn-time processing to reduce CPU load.
• Added effect caching to decrease CPU load when generating duplicate effects.
• Optimized rendering processes to reduce CPU/GPU load.
• Performed other minor adjustments to lower the overall load.

The following 9★ event quests have been made permanently available:

• The White Wonder
• Ultimate Berserker
• The Monkey King
• Sovereign Brute
• There Goes the Neighborhood
• Added a new special environment quest. (This quest will become available after completing the existing three special environment quests as well as the 10★ Arch-tempered Arkveld event quest.)
• When quick-accessing “Quest Last Played” on the top screen at the Quest Counter, the default departure point will now be set to the last departure point used. (If the last departure point used is not available, the player will start from the base camp as usual.)
• Adjusted the display for event quests to make it clearer that the player is offline on the screens for accepting or joining a quest.
• Added a Refresh button to the search results list for SOS Flare Quests.
• Added Thai as a text language. Text language can be changed in the title menu options.
• Added Latin American Spanish as a voice language. Voice language can be changed in the title menu options.
• Added a “Favorited Items Safeguard” feature to the Start Menu options. This will lock the confirm button for specific facilities so that the player cannot use items that are registered as favorites. (Note: This setting can be changed back to “Require Confirmation” on the same options screen.)
• Added a shortcut button for checking the details before registering an equipment loadout for shared loadouts on the Invitation List screen.
• Added a shortcut button for going back and forth between the “Upgrade from Box” screen and “Transcending” screen at the Smithy.
• Adjusted the UI for when the player approaches a Hunting Assistant (Werner or Gemma) in the field, making it easier to distinguish between the positions of Werner or Gemma and their hunting tools.
• All nine permanent event quests that were only playable online have been made available for offline play as well. (Please refer to the Event Quest schedule for more details.)
• Heart of Judecca (Arch-tempered Jin Dahaad)
• Specter of Their Sins (Gogmazios), etc.
• All 29 event quests that yield equipment materials and that were only available for a limited time have been made permanent and playable offline. (Please refer to the event quest schedule for more details.)

Miscellaneous

• Made adjustments that should prevent the Handler from pushing the hunter while out in the field during hunts or exploration. An option to hide them completely during a hunt was also added.

Bug Fixes and Balance Adjustments

Bases and Facilities

• Fixed an issue preventing some pins from being displayed and the score from being tallied correctly if the player throws a barrel right before starting Barrel Bowling.

Monsters

• Fixed an issue where the outcome of a turf war between Lagiacrus and Rathalos would differ between players.
• Fixed an issue where a weak point appeared at the incorrect timing during a Rompopolo’s toxic gas attack.
• Fixed an issue where Compact Anti-Wyvern Guns that fall to the ground sometimes wouldn’t appear under specific conditions during the Gogmazios quest.
• Fixed an issue in Jin Dahaad, Tempered Jin Dahaad, and Arch-tempered Jin Dahaad quests where, under certain conditions, only the monster would move to the final area, preventing quest progression.

Player

General

• Fixed an issue preventing the correct system messages from being displayed when a skill effect ends due to the player switching weapons.
• Fixed an issue where Fabius could get hit by the player’s slinger during Gogmazios’s special attack.

Sword & Shield

• Fixed an issue causing some items to disappear temporarily from the Radial Menu when using items like traps and such while the sword & shield are unsheathed.

Dual Blades

• Fixed an issue where landing a Focus Strike with the Dual Blades on Gogmazios while airborne caused the player to move erratically.

Bowguns

• Fixed an issue causing unintended elemental effects to be displayed on Artian weapons.

Skills

• Fixed an issue that caused an elemental resistance increase icon to appear when the “Protective Veil I” skill was active, despite the skill not having that effect.

Support Hunters

• Fixed an issue where Support Hunters may fire Compact Anti-Wyvern Guns away from Gogmazios while riding Seikret.
• Fixed an issue where Support Hunters may stop to carve Gogmazios’s severed tail during the quest.
• Fixed an issue where Fabius would stop guarding if the quest leader changed during Gogmazios’s special attack.
• Fixed an issue where the direction of Fabius’s guard would deviate from the intended direction during Gogmazios’s special attack.
• Fixed an issue where Support Hunters would not take cover during Jin Dahaad’s large area-of-effect attack.
• Fixed an issue where Support Hunters would attack Omega Planetes instead of the Nerscylla while it was charging the Delta Attack.
• Fixed an issue where Support Hunters inside a shield could still take damage during Omega Planetes’s Delta Attack.
• Fixed an issue that caused Support Hunters to be unable to get in or out of the underwater combat area during the Lagiacrus hunt.

Miscellaneous

System

• During a Field Survey, if the player deals extensive damage to a large monster that isn’t the current quest target, the health value conditions that would prevent that monster from becoming a target in a subsequent Field Survey have been relaxed.
• Fixed an issue where unnecessary chat logs (indicating monsters leaving the locale) could display during a Special Environment Quest in which the environment contains a monster of the same species as large monsters that are already designed to appear in that quest.
• Fixed an issue where the Cosmetic DLC Pass text was not displaying correctly under Add-ons in the Support Desk menu.
• Fixed an issue where the pattern thickness for the “Whitewing Caparison” decoration could not be adjusted in Seikret Customization.
• Added a fix to correct weapon performance when unintended bonus combinations are applied during reinforcement of Artian Weapons or Gogma Artian Weapons.

PlayStation 5:

• We have implemented a solution to reduce the load time experienced at startup when the user has a large number of add-ons.

Locales

• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused Pitfall Traps or Shock Traps to disappear after being placed in certain areas in the Windward Plains.
• Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause two Convergent Elderbreaker cannons to appear under specific conditions during the Gogmazios quest.

Other

• Fixed an issue where some voice lines would not trigger properly.
• Fixed various text issues.
• Fixed other miscellaneous issues.

The post is a the latest iteration of the Xbox Excellence Awards, which was created last year to celebrate how players engaged with various releases on Xbox. The Store Rating category lists 2025 games with the best ratings on the Microsoft Store, with an added requirement of the title having at least 500 ratings. Player Engagements is about the average number of hours spent on a game by each player within the first six weeks of a game’s release. Daily Active Users celebrates titles, expansions or updates with the highest single-day active users throughout the year. And finally Units Sold is fairly self-explanatory.

Going down the lists, you’ll find many of the biggest releases of the year, from ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6, as well as award-winning RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Indie titles have also been well-represented, with games like Crime Scene Cleaner and Satisfactory making it into the lists. There also doesn’t seem to have been a singular genre to dominate the lists, since everything from sports games like EA Sports Madden NFL 26, to fantasy adventure life sims like Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and even fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics are well represented.

Curiously, none of the games was present in all four of the categories. At most, we got to see titles like Borderlands 4 being able to make it on to three of them: Player Engagement, Daily Active Users and Units Sold. Even ARC Raiders, which has seen quite a bit of success, is only on the Units Sold and Daily Active Users lists.

Microsoft has also emphasized that the lists represent a diverse collection of games developed by studios of varying sizes. All in all, it represents 48 unique developers based out of 13 countries, with 24 publishers having had a hand in their release. 19 of the games were self-published. “Taken as a whole, it’s an encapsulation of development on Xbox – we want gaming to reach you wherever you are, and for the teams making those games to find you from wherever they are,” wrote the company.

Full list of games:

Store Rating:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Crime Scene Cleaner
• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dreamcore
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Lies of P: Overture
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Little Nightmares III
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
• Minami Lane
• Mullet MadJack
• Poppy Playtime Chapter 4
• Satisfactory
• Silent Hill 2
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Player Engagement:

• Borderlands 4
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Farm Together 2
• Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
• Helldivers 2
• Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• NHL 26
• Rust
• Satisfactory
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Daily Active Users:

• Arc Raiders
• Avowed
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fortnite
• Forza Horizon 5
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Grounded 2
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Minecraft
• NBA 2K26
• Rematch
• Roblox
• Rocket League
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Units Sold:

• Arc Raiders
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• EA Sports Madden NFL 26
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Helldivers 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• PGA Tour 2K25
• Ready or Not
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• WWE 2K25

The collaboration with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will also be available alongside 10-star Arch-Tempered of the Apex Monsters, namely Rey Dau, Uth Duna, Nu Udra, and Jin Dahaad. Players can undertake a new side mission, claim a free Character and Palico Edit Voucher, and receive the Hunter Appreciation Pack (but only until March 19th).

Interestingly, the Festival of Accord is also cycling every week, starting with the Blossomdance on February 18th, followed by Flamefete on February 25th, Dreamspell on March 4th, and Lumenhymn on March 12th. March 19th will see the addition of a new limited-time Challenge Quest against Arch-Tempered Arkveld.

A decent spread of content overall, though it remains to be seen if Capcom will continue to release new monsters or focus purely on the paid expansion. Given how content-packed these tend to be, usually introducing a new region, Master Rank, and monsters, it should be worth the wait. More details are coming this Summer, so stay tuned for further updates.