The Latest Monster Hunter Release Falling Behind The Previous Game in Unit Sales
Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter Wilds has sold 10.7 million copies following its release on February 27. Despite these impressive numbers, the new title is being outsold by the earlier game from four years ago, Monster Hunter Rise, which sold approximately 150,000 more units in Capcom's previous fiscal quarter.
Sales Comparison Between the Two Titles
At the end of June, the figures showed Monster Hunter Wilds had sold roughly 10.5 million units. Now, the total stands at 10.7 million. In contrast, Monster Hunter Rise achieved 17.5 million by the end of June and has now climbed to 17.8 million. Many acknowledge that Monster Hunter games often have long sales tails. For instance, Rise shipped 7.5 million units in its first six months, but required two years and a multiplatform launch to reach the 12 million mark. Nevertheless, it's quite rare for a previous game to perform better than a fresh title, particularly in the early post-release period.
Player Reactions and Frequent Criticisms
Capcom did not comment on the unusual trend in its financial report. However, a quick look at fan discussions across platforms provides insight into why players are sticking with older titles. Among the top grievances:
- Expansive areas lacking reasons to explore
- Gameplay viewed as simplistic by experienced players
- A lackluster postgame
- Minimal challenge and advancement feeling
- Ongoing performance issues on PC
Update and Content Analysis
Most significantly, infrequent post-release support stands out. Capcom maintained a regular update schedule for Monster Hunter Rise following launch. When it hit 7.5 million sales in the fall of 2021, Rise had benefited from six significant updates that introduced new monsters, enhanced challenge options, and weekly quests. During a comparable period, Wilds has had five patches, including minor cosmetic additions or slightly tweaked existing hunts.
Admittedly, 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.
It's been four months since a new creature was introduced to Wilds, and just three new beasts have been added since launch. Rise got three new monsters in its second month and more following the PC launch. Capcom announced Rise's expansion, Sunbreak, in the autumn of 2021, and no signs have emerged of a Wilds expansion so far. The message is clear.
