While Capcom’s Monster Hunter World: Iceborne has been available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for some time. It’s finally being released for PC today. You’ll still have to wait a couple of hours until the game is released, however. I know you can’t wait to dive into this new expansion, so let us help you know when exactly you’ll be able to do that and other various helpful tidbits.
When does the game unlock
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne PC is set to launch this Thursday, January 9th, 2020 on Steam. The expansion will go live worldwide at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET.
There’s no pre-load
Sadly, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne for the PC will not feature a pre-load. Meaning Steam’s servers are going to be working overtime as thousands of fans will be attempting to download the game at the same time.
What version of the game do I need?
With this release, Capcom has provided multiple SKUs. So you’ll have to pay attention to which version you pick up. If you’re new to the series and don’t own the base game, then you’ll want to get the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition. This version won’t be available until the game launches.
However, if you do already own the base game, you can choose from the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Standard or the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Deluxe Edition. You’ll snag the Yukumo Layered Armor Set if you purchase the game before the end of January 2020.
Other than that, the Deluxe Edition and Master Editions include a few bonuses such as the Silver Knight Layered Armor Set.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Deluxe & Master Edition bonuses
- Silver Knight Layered Armor Set
- 3 Gestures (Flourish, Praise, Genuflect)
- 1 Face paint
- 1 Hairstyle
- 2 Sticker Sets
- 1 Decor Set for Room Customization
Are there any discounts for the game
While the game is being sold directly via Steam, there are no discounts. That said, there are varies places selling the game for cheap. If we can make a recommendation, check out Greenmangaming.com. They’re selling both SKUs at 13% of the asking price.
How large is the download
Once the game is released, all existing Monster Hunter World owners will be prompted to download a patch (version 10.12.00). This new patch will be provided regardless if you pick up Iceborne or not and weighs in at 48GB. Which is the entirety of the game is downloaded to your PC. This includes QOL changes, optimizations, DirectX 12 support (finally!), improved keyboard and mouse support and more. You can read up on everything that’s included in this patch, here. All of the new content such as the story mode, new weapons and area will be locked unless you do purchase Iceborne.
There’s also a high-resolution package for those who have the power to push the game further. This weighs in at 45GB but is also optional. So you won’t have to download it unless you want to.
Keep in mind that downloading everything is going to require close to 95GB of space. Be mindful if you’re installing onto a smaller drive, such as an SSD.
Will I be able to play in 4K
Ah, I was wondering if you’d ask that. One of the perks of the PC version is being able to play at multiple resolutions. Luckily for you, not only is 4K supported but also 1440p and even ultrawide support is included. However, as you ramp up the resolution, you also move up the requirement ladder.
1080p / 30 fps
- OS: Windows® 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required)
- Processor Intel® Core™ i5 4460 or Core™ i3 9100F / AMD FX™-6300 or Ryzen™ 3 3200G
- Memory 8GB RAM
- Storage 48 GB available space (additional 45 GB for High Resolution Texture Pack)
- Graphics NVIDIA®GeForce®GTX 760 or GTX1050 or AMD Radeon™ R7 260x or RX 560
- DirectX Version 11 or 12
- Sound Card DirectSound (DirectX® 9.0c or later)
1440P / 30 fps
- OS: Windows® 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required)
- Processor Intel® Core™ i5 6600K or Core™ i5 9400F / AMD Ryzen™ 7 1700 or Ryzen™ 5 3600
- Memory 8GB RAM
- Storage 48 GB available space (additional 45 GB for High Resolution Texture Pack)
- Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX970 or GTX1660 / AMD Radeon™ RX 580
- DirectX Version 11 or 12
- Sound Card DirectSound (DirectX® 9.0c or later)
4K / 30 fps
- OS OS: Windows® 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit required)
- Processor Intel® Core™ i7 7700K or Core™ i7 9700F / AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700X or Ryzen™ 7 3700X
- Memory 16GB RAM
- Storage 48 GB available space (additional 45 GB for High Resolution Texture Pack)
- Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 Ti or RTX 2070 Super / AMD Radeon™ RX Vega 64 or RX 5700 XT
- DirectX Version 11 or 12
- Sound Card DirectSound (DirectX® 9.0c or later)
Mind you, all of these are for 30 frames per second, with 60 requiring even more power, or less enabled features in-game.
There you go, everything you need to get ready to play Monster Hunter World: Iceborne when it becomes available today for the PC. Maybe we’ll see you online?
