MH Wilds Beta Test Extended Due to PSN Outage

Monster Hunter Wilds is considering a 24-hour extension for their Open Beta Test 2 following the PlayStation outage that occurred this weekend. Read on to learn more about the extension and the events that led to 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 the PlayStation Network outage that took place over the weekend. The service was down for 24 hours starting at 6 PM EST on February 7th, which made all online games on the console unplayable, including the Monster Hunter Wilds beta test. The PlayStation Network was restored around 8 PM EST, according to the official NA X (Twitter) support account.

As of now, the specific date or time for the extension hasn't been announced, but it has been confirmed that it will be a 24-hour extension to compensate for the lost playtime. This extension could occur anytime from the end of Beta Test 2 Part 2 to February 27th, the day before the game's official release. Part 1 of the Beta Test 2 has already concluded, and Part 2 is set to begin on February 13th at 7 PM PT. Players will soon be able to dive back into the action and perhaps even encounter the quirky bug that transforms the game's detailed characters into humorous, low-resolution, low-poly blobs.

The Cursed Low-Poly Bug Returns

Capcom has noted that the build used in the beta testing phases is outdated and does not represent the game's state at its official launch. As a result, the beta build contains numerous bugs and technical issues, including the notorious low-poly character glitch, which occurs when textures fail to load properly. This glitch turns characters, Palicos, and even the titular monsters into bizarre, blocky versions of their intended designs.

However, rather than being upset by these odd transformations, fans have embraced the low-poly versions, sharing their encounters on social media and even expressing hope that Wilds will pay homage to its early, polygonal days. In an interview with GamesRadar+, the MH Wilds team acknowledged this amusing bug and expressed their delight that players are enjoying its quirks. They also encouraged players to experience the full game with the correct specifications upon its release later this month.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest installment in the acclaimed Monster Hunter series and marks the first mainstream title to feature an open-world setting called the Forbidden Lands. Players will assume the role of the Hunter, tasked with exploring the mysterious, uncharted region and confronting its apex predator, the White Wraith. This highly anticipated action-RPG is scheduled for release on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on February 28th, 2025.

PlayStation Network’s Largest Outage In Recent Years

In a post on its NA X (Twitter) support account, PlayStation attributed the day-long outage to an "operational issue" and apologized for the inconvenience. As compensation, users with an active PlayStation Plus membership will receive an additional five days of service added to their current subscription.

However, fans were dissatisfied with Sony’s lack of communication during the outage, which caused widespread panic and worry reminiscent of a similar service interruption in 2011. The 2011 PlayStation Network (PSN) outage was due to a coordinated hacker attack on its servers, compromising approximately 77 million user accounts. The PSN servers were down for three and a half weeks from April 20th to May 14th. During this period, Sony ensured to keep users informed about the events and the need for a thorough investigation to understand the full scope of the attack.