New Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 leak builds anticipation for a Capcom announcement

Late in December, a dataminer uncovered convincing evidence pointing to a Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 port. Analyzing a more recent build, Capcom appears to have covered its tracks. However, while most references to the console are gone, an image highlighting multiplayer features remains.

Possible Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 features

Lener30 on Reddit outlined the latest discoveries, which involve signs of fearsome creatures that will likely surface. Previous versions of the game also displayed code that included “NSW2 upgrade edition.” Those hints have been deleted, but strangely, the developers left a revealing illustration.

In the image, four handhelds look suspiciously like Nintendo’s system. The “Tutorial Image for Local Communication” could show the GameShare feature in action. In supported Switch 2 games, owners of the newer handheld can host local multiplayer sessions with up to three other players. Only the host would need to purchase a copy of the streamed title.

For fans who monitor rumors, a Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 release may be one of the worst-kept secrets. Beyond the datamines, the console already enjoys strong support from Capcom. That list is about to grow with Resident Evil Requiem, due out on February 27th. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and Pragmata will follow in March and April.

Performance concerns linger

Capcom President Haruhiro Tsujimoto commented on the popularity of the Switch 2, particularly in Japan. A Monster Hunter Wilds debut on the platform would be an opportunity to bolster floundering sales. The challenge is optimizing the game for a less capable system.

Steam Deck users have struggled to achieve stable frame rates, although updates have improved the situation. Still, DLSS is available on Nintendo’s handheld, which has made difficult ports like Cyberpunk 2077 viable. Earlier datamines of the creature hunter found traces of Nvidia’s upscaling, as well as reasonable performance targets.

For Nintendo gamers, Monster Hunter Wilds may only max out at 1080p and 30fps in docked mode. Regardless, fans will be watching for a potential announcement in the months to come.