Monster Hunter: World – Iceborne First Title Update Available

Back in September, Capcom released the Iceborne expansion for their co-operative action-RPG Monster Hunter: World, and now they follow it up with a free title update. The update introduces some new challenging monsters, the thunderous Rajang beastie, a new area to explore, and much more. You can find the detailed update notes over here. And then watch this developer diary dedicated to the update:

Here’s a press release with additional details and a preview of upcoming updates:

The first free title update for the acclaimed Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion is now available, keeping the Monster Hunter tradition of robust post-launch support and extending the end-game content even further. The free update offers more challenging options for players to conquer including the ferocious fan-favorite Rajang, more tempered monsters, a whole new region for the end-game Guiding Lands area, and more. In an accompanying developer update video, Capcom also revealed additional post-launch updates planned for the remainder of the year as well as upcoming collaborations.

Rajang

The centerpiece of the first update is the fearsome Rajang, the thunderous fan-favorite monster that offers a challenge for even the most seasoned hunters. This hyper-aggressive fanged beast turns into a golden ball of fury when enraged, unleashing even more lethal attacks as its powerful arms deal incredible damage in one swoop. However, defeating and utilizing its parts yields equally incredible equipment, including golden and black palette armor with high offensive skills.

The Guiding Lands

Finishing all the quests in the Iceborne story is just the beginning, as hunters are rewarded with even more robust end-game content in the Guiding Lands. This end-game locale opens up several biomes with landscapes and traits reminiscent of the maps from the main game, featuring more challenges, monsters and amazing rewards. By investigating and hunting monsters in each of the biomes, the higher the Region Level of that location becomes, the difficulty and quality of rewards increases. Materials from these quests offer customization options for weapons in both function and appearance. Also, certain monsters like Zinogre only appear in the Guiding Lands once a certain Region Level has been reached.

As part of the first update, a brand new volcanic biome has been added to the Guiding Lands and becomes accessible once players have started the special assignment quest to battle the aforementioned Rajang. In addition to Rajang, new tempered monsters are also being added to challenge hunters – Tempered Gold Rathian and Tempered Silver Rathalos. As an added incentive to take on these expert level battles, materials gathered from the Guiding Lands can also be used to craft layered armor for some of the Monster Hunter: World gear for players that are fond of the aesthetics of the earlier gear. Additionally, this title update includes gameplay adjustments within the Guiding Lands based on player feedback. Players can visit the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne website for more details.

Your Room updates

The first update also brings the ability to visit other players’ rooms, so hunters can check out how others have decked out their abodes. Paid DLC options for decorations have also been added for those that wish to spruce up their place even more for guests.

Future updates

The first title update is just the beginning. As with previous series iterations, Iceborne will continue with more free updates with the next one planned for November. This will include a collaboration featuring popular survival horror icons Leon, Claire and Tyrant, along with the special quests for the winning entries of the weapon and Palico equipment design contest for players to craft. For PlayStation®4 players, the first round of an exclusive Horizon Zero Dawn™: The Frozen Wilds collaboration will become available, giving players a chance to craft a Light Bowgun designed as Aloy’s Stormslinger.

December will continue with a new yet to be revealed monster and the return of Monster Hunter’s seasonal fests, which will be held in both Astera’s and Seliana’s Gathering Hub for all players to enjoy. Additionally, for PlayStation®4 players, the second round of an exclusive Horizon Zero Dawn™: The Frozen Wilds collaboration will be available as part of this update to craft a full armor set fashioned after the Shield-Weaver armor in Horizon Zero Dawn™, quests to craft new Palico equipment and upgrade the Stormslinger, plus a quest to craft the new Banuk armor set. There will also be quests to upgrade Aloy’s Bow and the Felyne Watcher equipment that were available in MH: World. More updates are planned for 2020 with information to be shared later.