Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance adds Boost Drivers and tougher monsters
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
IGN's Justin Koreis reported that Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, an upcoming expansion, introduces a major new feature called Boost Drivers and brings more dangerous monsters. Koreis wrote this in a hands-on preview after playing Ascendance at Tokyo Game Show 2026. He said the expansion could provide the kind of harder endgame he felt was missing from Monster Hunter Wilds, whose endgame he described as too easy. The preview also noted positives from Wilds' launch such as large open areas, strong visuals on current-generation consoles, and a likable cast of characters.
- What happened: IGN preview writer Justin Koreis reported that the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds expansion Ascendance introduces Boost Drivers as a major new feature and features monsters that are "more dangerous than ever," based on a hands-on at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
- Why it matters: Koreis wrote that Ascendance could supply the more challenging endgame he had been waiting for because he found Wilds' original endgame too easy.
- Context: In the same IGN preview, Koreis said he enjoyed Monster Hunter Wilds at launch for its big open areas, next-generation visuals, and cast of characters, but felt the core progression lacked the aspirational difficulty loop.
- What next: The IGN piece is a preview from a Tokyo Game Show 2026 hands-on and did not provide a release date or full availability details for Ascendance, so timing and final content remain unconfirmed in that report.
What changed
- IGN's hands-on preview by Justin Koreis identified Boost Drivers as a major new feature in Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance and described the expansion's monsters as more dangerous than before.
Availability
- The preview describes Ascendance as an upcoming expansion but does not list a release date or platform rollout in the article.
Before and after
- Before: Koreis said Wilds' endgame felt too easy at launch despite liking its open areas, visuals, and characters.
- After: Koreis suggested Ascendance could deliver the tougher endgame loop he had wanted.
Limits
- The information comes from a hands-on preview written for IGN at Tokyo Game Show 2026; the preview does not confirm final release timing or complete content details.