Fans of the Monster Hunter series have expressed mixed feelings about the weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World, leading to speculation about what to expect in Monster Hunter Wilds. While we've only glimpsed a few weapons from Wilds, it hasn't been enough to form a solid opinion on their overall design approach—until now. Yuya Tokuda, the Director of Monster Hunter Wilds, has shed light on this topic, providing clarity on the weapon design philosophy for the new game.

Discussing the Hope series armor and weapons, Tokuda explained, "Incidentally, weapon designs in Monster Hunter: World generally retained a certain form, but they featured a customized appearance based on which monster materials were used. However, in Wilds, each weapon has its own unique design."

This direct comparison to Monster Hunter: World's weapon designs clearly answers the lingering questions—fans need not worry about weapons looking too similar in Monster Hunter Wilds. Although some weapons in Monster Hunter: World evolved to become entirely unique, many did not. For instance, the final aqua line Sword and Shield closely resembles the final Pukei-Pukei Sword and Shield, and the final bone line Long Sword is nearly indistinguishable from the final Jyuratodus Long Sword. These were the most upgraded versions at the launch of Monster Hunter: World.

From Monster Hunter World, captured on the PS4. In contrast, take a look at the unique designs showcased in Monster Hunter Wilds in the slideshow below. Each weapon is distinctly different.

Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons

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We uncovered this information while discussing Monster Hunter Wilds' innovative approach to starting weapons and the Hope series gear, where we unveiled brand-new concept art of the striking Hope armor and weapons. Be sure not to miss it! Also, don't forget to explore our in-depth interview about the Oilwell Basin and its inhabitants, including the locale's Apex, The Black Flame, named Nu Udra.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 28. For more insights, check out our exclusive 4K gameplay videos hunting Ajarakan and Rompopolo, our interview with the development team on the evolution of Monster Hunter over the years, and details on the game's delectable food system. Stay tuned for more exclusive content throughout January as part of IGN First!