Wild Hearts: Everything We Know

If there was ever a love letter to Monster Hunter that we would genuinely want to analyze and read through with a fine-tooth comb, then it'd probably be Koei Tecmo's upcoming Wild Hearts, an all-new action-adventure game that takes all the combat elements from Capcom's well-loved universe and envelopes them in a highly ambitious new IP for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

So, besides its blatant spiritual connection with Monster Hunter, Ghost of Tsushima, and perhaps even a sliver of Horizon: Forbidden West, what do we actually know about Wild Hearts? Well, here's everything we've been able to pull together so far.

What Is Wild Hearts?

Wild Hearts is an upcoming action-adventure game by Omega Force, a globally recognized studio best known for its contributions to The Romance of the Three Kingdoms' tapestry. Endorsed by EA Originals, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts' indie-led wing, the Monster Hunter-inspired IP will look to bring explosive and exaggerated combat to a breathtakingly invigorating world that's fleshed out with behemoth-sized monsters, advanced character progression, and quests upon quests that allow players to learn, evolve, and prosper.

“WILD HEARTS™ is a twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against giant nature-infused beasts,” the official description reads. “The more you hunt, the more you progress. Create your character, then gather materials from each hunt and build an array of armor and weapons to bring down even bigger beasts.”

Story

In Wild Hearts, players take on the role of an unnamed warrior, one who's tasked with venturing across the various biomes of Azuma, an ever-evolving world that's overrun with enormous beasts known as Kemono. To restore balance in the seasonal districts of the once-loved world, the budding swordsmith must learn to wield a variety of weapons and drive back the colossal foes that cloak the land.

“No one remembers why the Kemono began their rampage,” the blurb reads. “These giant beasts wield the power of nature itself, and none could stand against their might. Until you, hunter, armed with deadly weapons and ancient Karakuri technology, could turn the tide of battle.”

Gameplay

According to Omega Force, Wild Hearts will boast both a single and multiplayer campaign that can take upwards of 30 or more hours to beat. Either alone or with two other friends, players can take on the distinctive realms of Azuma and unlock their hero's inner potential, using a multitude of weapons and skills to further expand their knowledge on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, Wild Hearts will not feature an open world. Instead, it will span several large and season-themed biomes, all of which players can morph into their own personal hunting grounds in order to track, outsmart, and slaughter the beasts that roam them. The more kills you accrue — the more currency you will earn to unlock new weapons, armors, and abilities. Textbook monster hunting, really.

Development

Wild Hearts is being developed by Omega Force, a studio that serves as just one small portion of Koei Tecmo's primary workforce. Known for its hack-and-slash IPs including Dynasty Warriors, the action-obsessed studio has gone on to hone its skills and become not only a valuable asset to Koei Tecmo, but a dominant force in the video game industry.

Wild Hearts was first coined back in 2018 after Omega Force conjured the idea to move on from its Toukiden series. In turn, the Koei Tecmo division presented the idea to mesh a new style of combat with a modern Japanese setting, which would eventually go on to feature four unique biomes, each based on a certain season of the year. This idea was later brought to the attention of Electronic Arts' EA Originals platform, which had previously helped bring games like It Takes Two and Unravel to fruition. Fast-forward several years, and the concept of Wild Hearts finally snowballed into a full-fledged monster-hunting IP.

Trailer

So, has there been a trailer for Wild Hearts yet? In short, yes — thanks to Omega Force shedding a little additional light on it back in September 2022. Since then, Koei has brought a second gameplay trailer to the table, which helped flesh out the world of Azuma and the overall combat system that players can expect to indulge in. You can see the original announcement trailer for yourself in the video above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Wild Hearts will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on February 16, 2023. It hasn't been confirmed whether or not the game will be coming to Switch in the future, though given the platform's history, it could be that a handheld port comes to light a year or so after its initial release.

The good news is, both EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have immediate access to Wild Hearts three days prior to its February 16th launch. Although the game won't be available to play in its entirety, subscribers of either platform will, on the other hand, be able to “play up to the gates of Minato starting February 13, 2023.”

Wild Hearts will come in two editions: Standard Edition, which includes the base game only, and the Karakuri Edition, which includes the following items as well as the base game:

• 1 x Emote (Ferocious Kemono)
• 5 x Chat Stamps
• 2 x Full Armor Sets
• Decorative Tsukumo Lantern
• 3 x Emotes

For more information on Wild Hearts' release and post-launch updates, be sure to check in with the official social handle here. We'll be sure to let you know of any fresh details should they come to light.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Wild Hearts when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.