Sales Momentum Falters After Strong Launch

When Monster Hunter Wilds released earlier this year, it roared out of the gates, selling over 10 million copies in its first month across platforms. However, the sales momentum has since cooled. At times, the game has even been outsold by older entries.

While some players have pointed to performance issues and limited post-launch content as possible causes, Capcom has its own explanation for the slowdown.

Capcom Cites PlayStation 5 Price Barrier

In an interview with Nikkei Gaming (via Automaton), Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimoto attributed the drop in sales to the cost of PlayStation 5 hardware. As the PS5 is positioned as the lead platform for Monster Hunter Wilds, the price of entry extends well beyond the cost of the game itself.

Tsujimoto noted that younger players, who make up a significant portion of the Monster Hunter fanbase, are particularly affected by:

The high upfront cost of purchasing a PS5 console
Additional expenses for accessories
Ongoing subscription fees for services like PlayStation Plus

For many, these costs make diving into the latest entry a difficult decision.

This financial barrier may explain why older games, such as Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise, continue to perform strongly. With their full content already available on more affordable and accessible hardware, they remain attractive options for fans who are unwilling or unable to transition to the PlayStation 5 ecosystem.

Looking Ahead: Discounts and Switch 2 Potential

Capcom is not giving up on Monster Hunter Wilds. Tsujimoto shared that the company will continue to roll out discounts to attract new players. More importantly, Capcom is actively exploring a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game.

With the Switch 2 being more affordable and highly popular in price-sensitive markets, such as Japan, a portable version could reinvigorate sales and significantly expand the game’s reach.

What It Means for Capcom

If Monster Hunter Wilds makes the jump to the Switch 2, the series could once again find itself thriving on handheld hardware, a space where it has historically excelled. For now, though, Capcom’s challenge lies in keeping the game relevant while navigating the barrier posed by the cost of owning a PlayStation 5.