Monster Hunter Wilds Development for Switch 2 Commenced in 2025

Capcom has confirmed that development of the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds began in June 2025. Speaking to Famitsu, members of the development team explained why the port started when it did and why it has been one of the most demanding conversions the studio has attempted, as the game prepares to reach Nintendo’s hybrid console at a date that has not yet been announced.

A complex optimization process

Monster Hunter Wilds launched in February 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it is one of Capcom’s most technically ambitious games, with large seamless maps, shifting weather and big herds of monsters on screen. Rather than treating the Switch 2 version as a straightforward port of existing data, the team described it as a labor-intensive optimization project. Developers Tsujimoto, Sunano and Fujioka said the work required refining each individual element of the game specifically for the hardware.

“It wasn’t a matter of doing one thing and solving everything; it was truly a process of optimizing each and every element for the Switch 2,” Tsujimoto explained.

Staffing and timing

Fujioka noted that the studio had several opportunities to begin porting earlier, but staffing constraints delayed the start. The team chose to wait until the main version of Monster Hunter Wilds had stabilized after launch, so that key members could move over to the Switch 2 project.

After that internal reallocation, the team ramped up its efforts toward the end of 2025. Sunano described the work since then as moving at “quite a rapid pace” as the team adapted to the console’s specific requirements. Capcom officially confirmed the Switch 2 version in June 2026, around the same time it announced the Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance expansion for 2027.

What is confirmed and what is not

At this stage, Capcom has confirmed only that the Switch 2 version is in development. It has not announced a release date, a price, or performance targets such as resolution and frame rate, and it has said more details, including the release date, will be shared later. It is also not yet clear whether the Ascendance expansion will be available on Switch 2 or when. Players should treat any specific launch date or performance figure as unconfirmed until Capcom announces it.

Players hoping for the previous mainline entry on Nintendo’s new console should not hold their breath. Recent comments reported this month suggest Monster Hunter World is unlikely to come to Switch 2, with Capcom’s focus on bringing its newest entry to the platform instead.

Why it matters

Monster Hunter has a long history on Nintendo hardware, from Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on the 3DS to Monster Hunter Rise on Switch. A Switch 2 version of Wilds would put the series’ latest high-fidelity entry in a portable form for the first time, which matters for players who want to hunt away from a TV or gaming PC.

The detail about the team optimizing every element also sets expectations: this is a dedicated conversion rather than a quick port. How well it runs will only be known once Capcom shares footage or technical details, and until then, owners of the existing PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions remain the only way to play the full game.