Monster Hunter Wilds gets a free Switch 2 demo, with $29.99 pre-orders

You can now try Monster Hunter Wilds for free on Nintendo Switch 2. Capcom has released the Prologue Demo on the eShop, the same one already available on PS5, Xbox Series and PC: it lets you play the start of the campaign, from character creation through “Chapter 1-3: To the Forest,” with exactly the same content as the full version. Progress carries over to the final game, which arrives on the console on December 4, 2026.

The demo is offline only: online multiplayer is not included, and the Support Hunters you summon with an SOS Flare are computer-controlled. The Switch 2 version adds one thing, though: local play with up to four hunters on nearby consoles, each with its own copy of the demo. Capcom asks for at least 14 GB of free space.

What it costs to pre-order

Digital pre-orders opened alongside the demo with a 25% discount until launch. In the US eShop, the Standard Edition drops from $39.99 to $29.99. The Gold Edition, which bundles the game with a 126-pack cosmetic DLC collection and bonuses, costs $79.99 with no discount. Pre-orders include the Guild Knight layered armor and the Hope Charm talisman. In Brazil, the prices are R$149.25 (down from R$199) and R$410.

What to expect from the Switch 2 version

According to the official page, the full game supports crossplay with other platforms (online play requires Nintendo Switch Online) and ships with Title Update 1.01, which bundles everything Wilds has received since its February 2025 launch. The physical version, the Deluxe Edition, is a game-key card: the box holds a key that unlocks a download rather than the whole game on the cartridge.

The Switch 2 launch is the first step in a busy schedule: Capcom has already announced a major expansion, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, for 2027, along with a free update packed with quality-of-life improvements. For players who joined the series with Rise on the original Switch, the demo is the easiest way to see how the new console handles the hunt before paying.