Hunters Unite! Complete Guide to Multiplayer and Cross-Play in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds’ multiplayer mode offers lobbies, Link Parties, Environment Links, SOS flares, and exciting co-op experiences, but navigating these new features can be overwhelming.

Here’s a simplified guide on how Monster Hunter Wilds’ multiplayer works, so you can easily team up with other hunters and conquer the game’s challenges together.

1. How to Play Monster Hunter Wilds with Friends?

Monster Hunter Wilds supports cross-play between PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, allowing seamless play with friends across different platforms. To play with friends on other platforms, you’ll need their Hunter ID, which can be found in the game’s menu.

Before diving into online multiplayer, make sure to complete the initial character creation process and finish the introductory Chatacabra tutorial hunt.

To find a friend’s Hunter ID:

• On console: Go to Menu > Info > Hunter Profile and press Tab.
• On PC: Go to Menu > Communication > Member List > Hunter ID Search.

To disable cross-play:

• Go to the main menu.
• Select Options -> Game Settings -> Cross-play.

Additionally, you can disable all online and multiplayer features by:

• Going to the main menu.
• Selecting Privacy -> Acquisition of Personal Information.
• Rejecting the option (note: you can re-enable it any time).

However, note that Monster Hunter Wilds does not offer cross-save progression. This means that your game progress, including DLC, story advancements, and character data, will be exclusive to the platform where you initially started playing. If you switch to a different platform, you’ll have to begin from scratch.

2. Multiplayer Modes in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds has two main multiplayer systems: Lobbies and Link Parties.

The main difference between Lobbies and Link Parties is that Lobbies serve as public spaces where players can meet and interact with others, whereas Link Parties are private groups designed for playing with friends.

Lobbies	Link Parties
Large online sessions with up to 100 players	Smaller, private groups of up to 4 players
Players can socialize, group up, and join quests together	Intended for playing with friends
Lobby members can communicate through text and voice chat	Link Parties have a separate voice channel
Lobbies are like shared public spaces, with players free to join each other’s quests	Members can join each other’s quests easily and stay together after quests are completed

3. Creating a Link Party in Monster Hunter Wilds

To hunt with friends, create a Link Party, which allows up to four players to join quests together. Here’s how:

• Invite friends to a Link Party from your Steam friend list or in-game Hunter Friends list.
• Start a quest by talking to Alma, selecting a monster on the environment map, or attacking a monster in the wilderness.
• Friends in your Link Party will receive a notification and can join the quest through the “Link Member Quests” menu.

With the use of Link parties, players can

• Hunt together without being in the same lobby.
• Play through the story with friends, but keep in mind that progress may not be synced.
• Receive notifications when a party member posts quests, allowing you to join and aid their hunts through the Link Party Quests menu.
• Split the groups and join multiple quests simultaneously.

Additionally, parties can form an Environment Link, enabling them to explore the game’s open environments together.

i. Environment Links

An Environment Link allows you to explore Monster Hunter Wilds’ open world with friends in your Link Party. Without an Environment Link, you won’t be able to see your friends while roaming the world unless you’re on a quest together.

In an Environment Link, you can freely explore the open world with friends, initiate Field Surveys for consecutive hunts, and battle monsters that appear on the World Map.

However, while in an Environment Link, you won’t be able to start optional quests or saved investigations from Alma, and your hunting options will be restricted to the monsters visible on the World Map.

To invite your Link Party to an Environment Link:

• Go to the Communication menu
• Select Link Party
• Choose “Invite All to Environment Link”

To return to traditional quest posting and joining:

• Go back to the Communication menu
• Select Link Party
• Choose “Disband” (if hosting) or “Leave Environment Link” (if not hosting)

4. Lobbies and Squads in Monster Hunter Wilds

Lobbies

Lobbies in Monster Hunter Wilds are a traditional multiplayer feature that allows players to gather and play together. Here’s how they work:

• Public lobbies can hold up to 100 players and can be joined by selecting “recommended lobby” or searching for specific lobbies.
• In public lobbies, players can see each other in base camp and join each other’s quests through the Lobby Member Quests menu.
• Private lobbies are also available, requiring players to search for the lobby’s ID to join. Private lobbies have a smaller player cap.
• Squads have their own dedicated lobbies, ideal for larger groups who want to play together regularly.

Squads

Squads are persistent groups in Monster Hunter Wilds that allow players to team up and play together easily. Here’s how they work:

• Squads are independent of lobbies and Link Parties.
• You can create or search for a squad by going to Menu > Info > Manage Squads or speaking to Felicita in the Windward Plains base camp.
• When creating a squad, you can customize its name, emblem, and preferences.
• Squads can have up to 50 members, and each hunter can join up to 8 squads.
• The main benefit of creating a squad is that each squad has its own associated lobby, making it easy to join hunts with squad members.
• Squad lobby members can join each other’s quests and see each other in base camps.
• Squads also have their own text chat channel that persists even after logging off.

5. SOS Flares in Monster Hunter Wilds

In Monster Hunter Wilds, SOS Flares allow you to request assistance from other hunters during a quest. Here’s how it works:

• You can fire an SOS Flare from the menu or radial menu, even while playing solo.
• If you’re online, other hunters can join your quest from the SOS Flare Quests menu.
• If no one joins, AI-controlled “Support Hunters” will fill the open slots.
• Joining SOS flare quests is a great way to jump into co-op and help other hunters.
• You can filter SOS flare searches by criteria like quest difficulty, type, locale, language, and platform.
• You can also specify a target monster for your SOS flare search.

SOS Flares also summon AI-controlled Support Hunters to aid you in battle by attacking creatures, healing you, laying down traps, and offering other support.

If other players respond to your SOS Flare, they’ll join your party and replace the AI companions, allowing you to team up with real players instead.

So whether you’re teaming up with friends through Link Parties, joining forces with other hunters in lobbies, or calling for backup with SOS Flares, multiplayer in Monster Hunter Wilds is a world waiting to be discovered by you. 

Happy Hunting!

6. About Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds is an exciting new entry in the Monster Hunter series that takes players on an adventure through a beautiful, sprawling world filled with powerful creatures. In this game, you become a skilled hunter, tasked with tracking down, battling, and capturing a variety of impressive monsters, each with its own unique traits. The game adds fresh mechanics that make combat and exploration even more engaging.

You can customize your hunter with different weapons and gear to match your preferred playstyle. Plus, the multiplayer feature allows you to team up with friends for epic hunts, working together to take down giant beasts. With stunning graphics and a rich backstory, Monster Hunter Wilds offers hours of fun for both new players and series veterans. Whether you’re climbing mountains or setting traps, the thrill of the hunt is always alive in this immersive adventure.