Monster Hunter Wilds is retiring one of its most criticized microtransactions. Character Edit Vouchers, the paid items you needed to change your hunter’s or Palico’s appearance, are being pulled from sale and eventually removed from the game entirely. The shift arrives as part of the free Ver. 2 update alongside the Ascendance expansion, and it comes bundled with a batch of quality-of-life changes and UI options that let you dial the game back toward how older Monster Hunter titles looked and played.
Quick answer: Character Edit Vouchers stop being sold on December 3, 2026. Everyone gets 10 Character Edit Vouchers and 10 Palico Edit Vouchers for free to use until Ascendance launches in 2027, after which editing appearances is free forever with no vouchers required.
Character Edit Voucher timeline and key dates
The change happens in stages. Sales end first, free vouchers bridge the gap, and the whole voucher system disappears once the expansion goes live.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2026 | Vouchers removed from all storefronts; 10 Character and 10 Palico Edit Vouchers granted free; Thank-You Pendant Set becomes claimable |
| December 4, 2026 | Switch 2 version launches and starts with 10 of each voucher already granted |
| 2027 (Ascendance / Ver. 2) | Appearance edits become free and unlimited; vouchers removed from the game |
The discontinued products include the Character & Palico Edit Voucher Three-Voucher Pack, the individual Character and Palico three-packs, and the various single-voucher free-gift and free-trial versions. You can still spend any vouchers already in your balance right up until Ascendance releases.
How the free vouchers and pendants are delivered
Once you install the update on December 3, the 10 Character Edit Vouchers and 10 Palico Edit Vouchers are added automatically on top of whatever you already hold. There is no separate claim step for them. You know it worked when your voucher balance climbs after the patch.
If you previously paid for vouchers, Capcom is offering a small thank-you instead of a refund. Players who bought the Character & Palico Edit Voucher Three-Voucher Pack, the Character Edit Voucher Three-Voucher Pack, or the Palico Edit Voucher Three-Voucher Pack are eligible for the Special Thank-You Pendant Set, which contains the Heavenly Hog and Beelzeboar pendants. The set is granted automatically once you apply the December 3 update.
There are no refunds for past voucher purchases, and Capcom has said the Heavenly Hog and Beelzeboar pendants may become available separately later on.
Free unlimited character edits with Ascendance
The bigger change lands with the Ver. 2 update in 2027. From that point, you can re-edit the appearance of your hunter and Palico as many times as you want, at no cost and with no voucher involved. This applies to everyone, including players who never buy the Ascendance expansion, and it covers the base game as well.
UI display options that match older Monster Hunter games
The same free update adds HUD settings aimed at players who found the current interface distracting. You can move the in-game clock to the top left, next to your health and stamina bars, and swap the reactive gauge “squiggle” for a cleaner, clearer line closer to the style of previous entries. Item box display settings can be adjusted too.
These live under Options > HUD Settings. Adjusting them there confirms the change, and the options apply to all players regardless of whether they own Ascendance.
Other quality-of-life changes in the Ver. 2 update
Beyond the voucher overhaul and HUD tweaks, the update folds in several smaller convenience features that also reach every player.
- Swap between your primary and secondary weapons quickly without mounting your Seikret
- Change equipment from the item box menu outside your tent
- Save Item, Equipment, and Equipment Appearance loadouts as one combined Hunter Loadout that applies everything at once
- View numerical values for monster hide toughness in the Monster Field Guide instead of the vaguer star ratings
Capcom has said more improvements are planned for future updates, so this batch is a starting point rather than the full list of changes tied to Ascendance and its Ver. 2 patch.
