Monster Hunter Wilds may have roared out of the gate with over 10 million sales, but its victory lap didn’t last. Director Yuga Tokuda now admits that the game’s softened difficulty curve may have dulled the thrill for longtime fans and he wants them back.
Monster Hunter Wilds walks a fine line
Speaking at the PlayStation Partner Awards 2025, where Wilds scooped up both the Grand Award and User’s Choice honors, Tokuda addressed the growing tension between onboarding new players and keeping veterans engaged. Capcom’s gamble on accessibility worked early, but it came at a cost.
Tokuda revealed that the design team analyzed player bottlenecks from Monster Hunter: World and tweaked them to help newcomers avoid frustration. Features like Focus Mode were meant to help both new and returning players. But for those with years of experience under their belt, the game quickly lost its bite.
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Monster Hunter Wilds: The stats tell a mixed story
Yes, Monster Hunter Wilds crossed 10 million units in its first month. But by late October, sales had stalled at 10.7 million. For comparison:
- Monster Hunter: World sold 29.1 million
- Monster Hunter Rise cleared 17 million
Capcom noticed the drop-off and shifted strategy fast.
Capcom’s pivot: harder content, longer support
To win veterans back, Capcom is now focusing on tougher post-launch updates. High-difficulty hunts, deeper endgame systems, and more complex questlines are already rolling out.
Tokuda asked early quitters to take another look:
“I would appreciate it if you could pick it up again.”
Meanwhile, series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto hinted that this isn’t a short-term push. Capcom plans to support Monster Hunter Wilds well into 2026, with more content updates aimed at core fans.
Why veterans dropped off and why Capcom cares
For longtime hunters, Wilds delivered spectacle but lacked friction. The challenge curve flattened, and players who once relished punishing fights found themselves coasting. That drop in difficulty didn’t just affect engagement; it visibly hurt the game’s momentum.
And now, Capcom’s listening. The devs aren’t just patching in more monsters. They’re rebalancing the game’s spine to better suit those who stayed sharp while others got eased in. Whether it’s enough to pull lapsed players back remains to be seen, but the hunt isn’t over.
