Monster Hunter Wilds Trailing The Previous Game in Unit Sales
Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter Wilds has moved 10.7 million copies following its release on February 27. Although this seems substantial, the new title is losing ground by its four-year-old predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise, which outperformed by around 150,000 copies in Capcom's previous fiscal quarter.
Sales Comparison Of the Games
At the end of June, Capcom reported Monster Hunter Wilds reached about 10.5 million copies. Now, the total stands at 10.7 million. In contrast, Monster Hunter Rise had reached 17.5 million by the end of June and has now climbed to 17.8 million. Many acknowledge that the series typically sell steadily over time. For instance, Rise sold 7.5 million copies in its first six months, but needed two years plus releases on multiple platforms to hit 12 million. Still, it's quite rare for a previous game to outsell a new release, especially so soon after launch.
Player Reactions and Common Complaints
Capcom did not comment on the unusual trend in its financial report. Yet, a brief review at various Monster Hunter communities offers clues into the preference for earlier games. Among the top grievances:
- Large maps with no exploration incentives
- Hunts considered too easy by veterans
- A lackluster postgame
- Minimal challenge and advancement feeling
- Ongoing performance issues on PC
Post-Launch Support Comparison
Most significantly, infrequent post-release support is notable. Capcom maintained a steady flow of patches for Monster Hunter Rise after its debut. When it hit 7.5 million sales in the fall of 2021, Rise had received six major patches that introduced new monsters, expanded difficulty settings, and weekly quests. During a comparable period, Wilds has had five updates, including minor cosmetic additions or slightly tweaked existing hunts.
Sure, some of Rise's updates focused on crossover content, but Wilds has seen few collaborations. Rise included Mega Man, Okami, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter Stories events in its first five months. Wilds has seen just a Street Fighter event and a Final Fantasy XIV crossover.
Four months have passed since a new creature was introduced to Wilds, and just three new beasts have been added since launch. Rise received three additional creatures in month two and more following the PC launch. The company revealed Rise's expansion, Sunbreak, in the autumn of 2021, and there's no indication of a Wilds expansion yet. The trend is evident.
