Palworld Dev Pocketpair Gives Employees Monster Hunter Wilds Launch Day Off After Receiving ‘Mysterious’ Notes From Staff Who Said They’d Probably Be Too Unwell to Work

The developer of Palworld, Pocketpair, has graciously granted its staff a day off to enjoy the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. As reported by Automaton, the Japanese studio announced this decision on social media following a series of "mysterious" notices from employees claiming they would "probably be feeling unwell" on the game's release day, February 28. This gesture showcases Pocketpair's understanding and support for its team's gaming passions. However, the studio was quick to reassure fans that this fun holiday would not impact the updates on their own games.

Monster Hunter Wilds has made a sensational debut, achieving a peak of 1 million concurrent players on Steam. This impressive figure has propelled the game into the top 10 most-played games of all time on the platform, surpassing notable titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, and Elden Ring. Despite its success, the game has garnered a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has teased early details about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub to enhance the player experience.

The global impact of Monster Hunter Wilds' launch is undeniable, with a particularly strong reception in its home market of Japan. Automaton highlighted a humorous social media post from a Japanese indie developer who claimed not to have sold a single game on Steam since Monster Hunter Wilds was released. This illustrates the game's dominance in the market. It's worth noting that Pocketpair has a history of supporting its staff's gaming interests, having previously given them a day off for the launch of FromSoftware’s Elden Ring in 2022.

To kickstart your adventure in Monster Hunter Wilds, be sure to check out essential tips and tricks that the game doesn't explicitly tell you, as well as a comprehensive guide to all 14 weapon types available. Our detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough is also in progress, and we have a multiplayer guide to help you play with friends. If you participated in one of the open betas, you'll find instructions on how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.

IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, commending the game for "continuing to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge."