finally allowed players to try out the next-generation installment in the franchise with its open beta last year, letting players hunt a handful of exciting new monsters in a gorgeous desert landscape. While the ' beta offered an incredibly fun glance into the full release, it wasn't without its share of issues.
Although it was expected that not every feature would be included in the shorter experience that was offering, it was still missing one vital mechanic that would have benefited both new and returning players.
Thankfully, for fans who missed out on the first beta or those who simply want to see more of what has to offer, a second beta playtest is being launched in early February. While the second beta is an exciting prospect, it's confirmed that it will not fix many criticisms over the initial beta, like hitstop, weapon moves, and optimization.
However, these are planned to be ironed out when it finally launches. While exploring unique areas and encountering new enemies is more than enough to look forward to, it also gives ' fans another chance to prepare for its full release.
Even though it wasn't too surprising that many of the standard Gathering Hub features were excluded from the open beta, especially given its 100-player lobbies, the absence of a Training Area was a sorely missed exclusion.