Capcom is diving deep into nostalgia with the return of underwater combat in Monster Hunter Wilds, as part of its free Title Update 2 launching June 30. Headlining this update is the fan-favorite leviathan, Lagiacrus, who will force hunters to take the fight beneath the waves for the first time in years.
A Dive into the Past: Underwater Combat Returns
First introduced in Monster Hunter Tri and last seen in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, underwater battles have long been a polarizing feature in the franchise. Now, with the arrival of Lagiacrus, Capcom has reintroduced this long-absent mechanic in Wilds. Unlike traditional land-based combat, underwater encounters in Wilds limit weapon functionality and demand creative use of environmental hazards to emerge victorious.
This return marks the first full-fledged underwater fight in over a decade, igniting nostalgia for some and skepticism in others. While many players welcome the variety and spectacle, others are concerned about the sluggish combat pacing it may introduce.
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More Monsters and Seasonal Events on the Horizon
Alongside Lagiacrus, Title Update 2 also introduces Seregios, another returning monster beloved for its aggressive, aerial-focused attacks. Beyond new monsters, Capcom’s Free Title Update Roadmap outlines a series of limited-time events:
- Festival of Accord: Flamefete (July 23 – August 6)
- Arch-tempered Uth Duna (July 30 – August 20)
- Fender Collaboration Event Quest (August 27 – September 24)
These events aim to retain engagement and bring fresh content to a player base hungry for more.
A Game of Contrasts: Mixed Reviews but Strong Sales
Despite Monster Hunter Wilds crossing over 10 million sales and peaking at more than 1 million concurrent users on Steam, recent user feedback has been largely negative. On Steam, the game currently sits at “Mixed” overall with “Overwhelmingly Negative” recent reviews. Criticisms range from underwhelming post-launch content to missing optimization fixes promised before release.
Conclusion
Whether underwater combat will rekindle love or stir frustration remains to be seen, but Capcom is clearly committed to evolving Monster Hunter Wilds through nostalgic revivals and fresh seasonal content. With fan-favorite monsters and limited-time events rolling out, the franchise is navigating turbulent waters — but it’s still afloat.
