Monster Hunter Wilds on Switch 2: free demo October 20, full launch December 4

Capcom is bringing Monster Hunter Wilds to Nintendo Switch 2 on Friday, December 4, 2026, almost two years after it launched on PS5, Xbox Series and PC on February 28, 2025. Before that, a free demo lands on the eShop on Tuesday, October 20 in Europe (October 19 in North America), the same day digital pre-orders open.

The Prologue Demo

The Switch 2 demo matches the one already out on the other platforms: you create your character and play the start of the story, up to Chapter 1-3, "To the Forest". Your save carries over to the full game on Switch 2, a handy way to check how the port runs before buying. The demo supports local wireless play between several Switch 2 consoles, but has no online play: that's reserved for the full game.

What's in the Switch 2 version

• Every free title update released so far, including the return of Lagiacrus and the Final Fantasy XIV Online collaboration.
• Local wireless play with other Switch 2 owners, and online play with cross-play across platforms. Online play requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• The Ascendance expansion, due in 2027, is also coming to Switch 2.

Editions and pre-orders

Capcom is offering a digital Standard Edition ($39.99), a Gold Edition that adds a cosmetic DLC collection ($79.99), and a physical Deluxe Edition with the Deluxe Pack cosmetics ($39.99). Digital pre-orders of the Standard Edition get an early adopter price of $29.99 for a limited time. Prices are in US dollars: European prices aren't yet listed on the Nintendo eShop page.

Capcom has not shared performance figures for the Switch 2 version; the demo will be the first chance to see for yourself.