Monster Hunter Wilds Bugs and MTX Can't Stop Massive Launch

Monster Hunter Wilds: A Million Concurrent Players Despite Launch Issues

Despite a mixed reception on Steam, Monster Hunter Wilds boasts over 1 million concurrent players, shattering previous franchise records. This impressive player count, peaking at 1,384,608 according to SteamDB, surpasses the concurrent player peaks of Monster Hunter World (334,684) and Monster Hunter Rise (231,360). However, the game's Steam page currently displays "Mixed" reviews, with only 57% of the 54,669 reviews being positive. Criticism centers largely on poor PC optimization and performance issues.

Capcom Addresses Performance Concerns

Acknowledging the negative feedback, Capcom's Monster Hunter Status account on Twitter (X) responded on February 28, 2025, directing players to their support website for troubleshooting. Solutions suggested include updating graphics drivers, installing the latest Windows updates, and performing a clean driver installation. For persistent problems, players are advised to consult the official troubleshooting thread on the Steam community page.

Game-Breaking Bug Impacts Story Progression

A critical bug is preventing players from progressing through the story. The absence of a vital NPC in Main Mission: Chapter 5-2, "A World Turned Upside Down," is halting gameplay. Monster Hunter Status confirmed awareness of the issue on March 2, 2025, and stated they are actively working on a resolution. Additional issues, such as the inaccessibility of "Grill a Meal" and "Ingredient Center" features, and problems accessing the Smithy, have also been reported and are being addressed through hotfixes and updates across various platforms.

Character Customization Locked Behind Microtransactions

Character and Palico appearance customization is gated behind microtransactions. A "Character Edit Voucher Three-Voucher Pack," priced at $6.00, allows players three attempts to recreate their character. While basic adjustments like hair, eyebrow, and facial color remain free, significant changes require purchasing this voucher. A $10 voucher offers three edits for both character and Palico. Despite this, Capcom is providing a single free character edit voucher. While these microtransactions were absent during the testing phase, their inclusion was previously announced by Capcom.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, further reading is recommended.