The official release of Monster Hunter Wilds is still months awaybut the first mainline sequel to the hit franchise, built from the ground up for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, will be available for free testing in the first open beta test towards the end of October. PlayStation Plus subscribers in particular will get the chance to start playing three days earlier.

Capcom announced Monster Hunter Wilds' first open beta during a showcase on Wednesday that revealed a new region filled with bubbling oil wells, a village centered around a massive forge and a mysterious monster called the Black Flame. The latest trailer shows the new biome in action, topped off with molten lava melting in the forge. The multiplayer action RPG continues to look good very Good (You can find our practical impressions here).

The good news is that fans don't have to wait until Monster Hunter WildsRelease date: February 28, 2025 to get your hands on it and experience its world for yourself. An open beta test, available for free to all players on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, begins on Halloween and runs until early November. It consists of three sections, including a character creator (with characters that can be carried over to the main game), opening story missions, and a free-roaming Doshaguma hunt. Here is the full schedule:

• PlayStation 5 PlayStation Plus Early Access: October 28 at 8:00 p.m. (PT) – October 30 at 7:59 p.m. (PT).
• Non-PlayStation Plus subscribers: October 31 at 8:00 p.m. (PT) – November 3 at 6:59 p.m. (PT).
• Xbox Series X|S: October 31 at 8:00 p.m. (PT) – November 3 at 6:59 p.m. (PT).
• Steam: October 31 at 8:00 p.m. (PT) – November 3 at 6:59 p.m. (PT).

You'll notice that PS5 players who subscribe to PS Plus get a three-day head start, while everyone else has to wait until October 31st. It's also worth noting that PS Plus and Xbox Live, now part of Game Pass Core/Ultimate, are available. There's no need to play the online beta. The test also features cross-play, so you can meet up with your friends even if they're on a different platform. Each participant will receive a charm and item pack that can be used in the final game.

However, Capcom's partnership with Sony for the game goes a little deeper than early beta access. Over on the PlayStation Blogthe company highlighted DualSense-specific features Monster Hunter Wilds includes Tempest 3D audio support, as well as integration of the built-in speaker, adaptive triggers, and built-in accelerometer and gyroscope for long-range targeting of weapons and abilities. Hopefully there is an option to turn off all of these features or at least the built-in speaker. I'm already tired of my controller constantly screaming at me while I play AstroBot.