PSN Outage Prompts Consideration of MH Wilds Beta Test Extension

Monster Hunter Wilds is considering extending their Open Beta Test 2 by 24 hours following the PlayStation outage that disrupted gameplay over the weekend. Learn more about the extension and the events surrounding it.

Monster Hunter Wilds To Extend Beta Test 2

PS5 Players Could Not Play For 24 Hours

Monster Hunter Wilds (MH Wilds) is contemplating a one-day extension of their Open Beta Test 2 due to a recent PlayStation Network outage. The outage began at 6 PM EST on February 7th and lasted for 24 hours, making all online games, including the MH Wilds beta, unplayable. The service was restored around 8 PM EST according to the official NA X (Twitter) support account.

While the exact timing for the extension remains unannounced, it is confirmed to be a 24-hour period to compensate for lost playtime. This extension might occur anytime between the end of Beta Test 2 Part 2 and February 27th, the day before the game's official release. Part 1 of Beta Test 2 has already concluded, and Part 2 is scheduled to start on February 13th at 7 PM PT. Players can look forward to diving back into the action and possibly encountering the amusing low-poly bug that transforms the game's detailed characters into blocky, low-resolution figures.

The Cursed Low-Poly Bug Returns

Capcom has noted that the beta test builds are outdated and do not represent the final game. These builds often contain bugs, including the notorious low-poly character glitch where textures fail to load properly, turning characters, Palicos, and monsters into blocky versions of themselves.

Rather than frustration, fans have embraced this quirky glitch, sharing their encounters on social media and even expressing hopes that MH Wilds will pay homage to its polygonal roots. In an interview with GamesRadar+, the MH Wilds team acknowledged this amusing bug and expressed their delight in players enjoying it. However, they encourage players to experience the game fully optimized at its official launch later this month.

Monster Hunter Wilds, the latest installment in the renowned Monster Hunter series, introduces an open-world environment known as the Forbidden Lands. Players assume the role of the Hunter, tasked with exploring this mysterious region and confronting its apex predator, the White Wraith. The eagerly awaited action-RPG will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a release date set for February 28th, 2025.

PlayStation Network’s Largest Outage In Recent Years

PlayStation attributed the 24-hour outage to an "operational issue" in a post on its NA X (Twitter) support account and apologized for the inconvenience. As compensation, active PlayStation Plus members will receive an additional five days of service.

However, the lack of communication from Sony during the outage caused widespread concern among fans, reminiscent of a similar incident in 2011. That year, a hacker attack compromised approximately 77 million user accounts, leading to a three-and-a-half-week service interruption from April 20th to May 14th. Sony then actively communicated with users about the attack and the necessary steps to assess and address the situation.