Performance issues continue to plague many players of Monster Hunter Wilds on PC, which remains the game’s largest sales platform. In a notable shift, Capcom has reported that Monster Hunter Rise has now surpassed Wilds in sales rankings. Previously, Wilds held a slim lead, but recent figures reveal a significant decline in its sales, dropping from 10 million to under 500,000 in just three months. As of the latest financial report, Wilds has sold 477,000 copies, while Rise follows closely with 389,000.
Sales Dynamics and Challenges
The sales downturn for Wilds can be attributed to several factors. While some analysts point to the high costs associated with the PS5, which is the game’s second-largest platform, the overwhelming negative reviews on Steam and persistent technical issues on PC have undoubtedly contributed to its decline. Despite a recent update introducing an exciting collaboration with Final Fantasy 14, featuring a challenging new boss fight, player feedback has not improved. In fact, Steam reviews have taken a hit, as unresolved performance issues continue to tarnish the gaming experience.
Currently, Wilds is marked with the dreaded “Mostly Negative” label on Steam, with an overall rating of just 48% positive reviews. This perception has tangible effects on user interest and engagement, leading to a growing sense of dissatisfaction among the player base. As time progresses, the situation for Wilds on PC appears increasingly untenable.
In response to these challenges, Capcom is actively pursuing CPU and GPU optimizations, aiming to rectify the game’s long-standing performance issues this winter. While the development team is undoubtedly dedicated to resolving these problems, the current state of the game remains a point of contention.
In contrast, Monster Hunter Rise, which initially launched as a Nintendo Switch exclusive, has enjoyed a smoother transition to PC, resulting in significantly more favorable reviews. Many players have expressed a preference for the core combat mechanics of Wilds, yet the technical barriers have led them to opt for Rise instead. Interestingly, despite Wilds maintaining a larger active player base on Steam, the sales figures tell a different story.
Looking ahead, if Capcom’s winter optimizations fail to deliver substantial improvements, Wilds may find itself alongside Dragon’s Dogma 2 in the unfortunate category of well-crafted games hindered by technical shortcomings on PC. This scenario poses a potential risk as Capcom prepares for the anticipated Master Rank expansion for Wilds, and could further alienate PC gamers who are becoming increasingly wary of Capcom’s porting efforts. The lead producer of Monster Hunter acknowledges the importance of PC gaming, noting that there are more players than ever engaging with Japanese games on this platform, including in Japan.
