With Monster Hunter Wilds not slated for release on Switch 2, players now have an alternative for battling giant creatures on the console, courtesy of Koei Tecmo. A demo version of Wild Hearts S is currently accessible, and players will be able to carry their saved data over to the complete game when it becomes available on July 25.
Koei Tecmo announced that the demo allows users to play through the action-RPG`s introductory section up to the `Minato` area. This preview of Wild Hearts S will also include encounters with formidable beasts such as Ragetail and Kingtusk. Both online and local cooperative play are supported, and this functionality extends even to players who acquire the full game later. Notably, Wild Hearts S enhances the co-op experience by supporting up to four players, whereas the original 2023 release was limited to three. However, cross-platform multiplayer will not be featured.
The original Wild Hearts debuted in February 2023 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. While that version was published by EA under its EA Originals program, Koei Tecmo is handling the publishing for this Switch 2 iteration, meaning an EA account will not be necessary for engaging in multiplayer. The development of Wild Hearts S is attributed to Omega Force, a studio widely recognized for the Dynasty Warriors series.
Although Wild Hearts S shares similarities with the Monster Hunter franchise, it incorporates several distinct elements. For instance, the game features mechanical constructs called Karakuri, which players can strategically build to create climbing structures or deploy zip lines for swift movement across environments.