Monster Hunter Wilds finds itself at the center of a storm on Steam, where a chorus of players has expressed their dissatisfaction with both its performance and endgame offerings. Despite an impressive launch that set sales records, the game has experienced a notable decline in active users, now lagging behind its predecessor, Monster Hunter World, which was released in 2018.
Technical Troubles and Player Frustration
The primary source of discontent stems from technical shortcomings. Players have reported a range of issues, including frequent crashes, significant frame rate drops, and ongoing stuttering, even on high-end gaming systems. One frustrated user, Scoriox, articulated the sentiment of many, stating, “It’s really frustrating that the game cannot run smoothly on devices like the Steam Deck, while the Deck does fine with titles much more demanding on it.”
In addition to these performance dilemmas, long-time fans have voiced their concerns regarding the game’s endgame content. Many players feel that the offerings lack the depth and replayability that characterize the franchise, leading some to revert to Monster Hunter World for a more fulfilling experience.
Historical Context and Community Division
This wave of criticism is not unprecedented within the franchise. Reviewer LilimVixen noted that similar grievances were raised about the original version of Monster Hunter World, which later benefited from substantial updates and the acclaimed Iceborne expansion. The question now looms: will Capcom adopt a similar strategy with Wilds?
Community sentiment appears to be split. Tiamantus has gone so far as to label Wilds a “betrayal” of the series’ core identity, likening it to making a Souls game excessively easy. Conversely, voices like Genevieve Vavance and Simp King Ken argue that the backlash may be exaggerated, pointing out that early iterations of Monster Hunter games often start off less challenging and evolve into more complex experiences through post-launch support.
Capcom’s Response and Future Outlook
In response to the mounting criticism, Capcom has acknowledged the existing issues and committed to releasing patches. However, the slow rollout of these updates has only intensified player frustration. Following similar challenges faced by Dragon’s Dogma 2, some fans are beginning to question Capcom’s overall strategy regarding PC optimization.
Amidst the discontent, a segment of players continues to appreciate the game’s more relaxed pace, reflecting the shifting expectations within the Monster Hunter community. As the dialogue unfolds, it remains to be seen how Capcom will navigate these challenges and restore player confidence.
