Mat Piscatella, Executive Director and Video Game Industry Analyst at Circana (NPD), took to Blue Sky to share that Monster Hunter: Wilds enjoyed a great launch in the US market, with its first week dollar sales being the largest for a title since the debut of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 5 months ago in October, 2024.

According to Piscatella, Monster Hunter Wilds ranked #1 in weekly Dollar sales across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. PC was the best-selling platform.

PC being the leading platform in terms of sales isn’t surprising to see, considering how it was also the lead platform for sales of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. A significant chunk of the series’ player base exists on the platform. Additionally, co-op games are known to sell better on PC than their console counterparts. A recent example is Sony Interactive Entertainment and Arrowhead Game Studios’ third-person shooter, Helldivers 2.

All is not great with the PC version of Monster Hunter Wilds, however, aw launched in an unoptimized state, leading to PS5 Pro players calling the mid-gen console the best place to play the title. Upon experiencing performance issues with Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam, one player ended up claiming a refund and instead opting to purchase it on PS5 Pro. According to them, the game somehow looks and runs better on the console than on their high-end PC. They pointed out that Capcom’s other recent open world action role-playing game, Dragon’s Dogma 2, suffered from similar issues. In its analysis of the PC version, Digital Foundry pointed out that a high-end GPU will only be able to brute force the game’s technical shortcomings to a degree.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Despite this upcoming update, Capcom has noted that not all known issues will be addressed in this version. A list of remaining problems, including network errors when firing an SOS flare and blunt weapon attacks from Palicos failing to inflict proper stun and exhaust damage, has also been provided.

Patch Notes for Monster Hunter Wilds Update 1.000.05.00

Issues Planned to Be Addressed:

• The Meal Invitation event at Azuz and Sild may not trigger under certain conditions.
• Equipment Loadout issues that cause:
  • Decorations to be removed from equipment.
  • Bowgun Customization to revert to default settings.
  • Kinsects to reset to their initial rarity.
• Severed monster parts incorrectly turning into parts from a different monster.
• Gravios failing to gain flinch resistance after its parts are broken.
• Certain situations causing crashes or unusual monster behavior.
• Some skills unintentionally activating under specific conditions.
• Some items and rewards can be obtained repeatedly under unintended conditions.
• Fish do not swim away when using a capture net.
• Some environmental elements, such as floating debris, can be activated multiple times.
• Progression block in Main Mission: Chapter 5-1 “Omens.”
• The Palico support move Attract Vigorwasps may cause hunters to become unresponsive.
• Scrolling through the quest list only displays the first 20 quests correctly.
• A game crash may occur when loading save data that previously encountered a forced quit.

Known Issues as of March 7, 2025:

• A network error occurs when firing an SOS flare immediately after a quest begins.
• Link Members are not given priority over other players in some locations, including Base Camps.
• Palico blunt weapon attacks do not properly inflict stun or exhaust damage.
• Editing the Hunter Profile may not function correctly on some occasions.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest entry in Capcom’s action RPG franchise and serves as the successor to Monster Hunter: World. The game launched on February 28, 2025, for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, featuring cross-platform play.

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Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the most ambitious entries in the series, and not just because of its visuals or demanding system requirements. While it’s known on PC for pushing even high-end hardware to its limits, it still represents a solid evolution over Monster Hunter World and its more streamlined successor, Monster Hunter Rise. Free from the limitations of older consoles and dated hardware, the developers have fully utilized the new RE Engine to deliver ray-traced visuals and smooth animations. However, this comes at the cost of hefty system requirements, much like Dragon’s Dogma 2. It’s clear by now that while the RE Engine is technically impressive, it struggles to optimize and scale well for open-world games.

Despite these flaws, the gameplay in Monster Hunter Wilds is some of the most complex in the franchise. With a wide variety of weapons to master and a massive arsenal of items and equipment to collect, there’s plenty to keep players engaged. The monsters are as fearsome as ever, animated with a lifelike ferocity that makes them both awe-inspiring and challenging to defeat.

This is definitely not a game to jump into if you’re new to the Monster Hunter franchise. While the developers have included tutorials at every step to explain the basic gameplay mechanics, the combat and the various elements of the progression system can still feel overwhelming for newcomers. The game doesn’t fully open up until you’re several hours into the story. The initial hunts are against standard monsters, but once the game introduces the larger, more fearsome beasts, that’s when the gameplay truly shines.

My first experience with the franchise was Monster Hunter World, as I never played the earlier games on PSP or 3DS. Monster Hunter World was ambitious for its time, but it featured segmented world maps with limited traversal. Monster Hunter Wilds takes things a step further, offering a more expansive and interconnected world map that makes you feel like you’re part of a much larger environment. The story follows familiar genre tropes, with you playing as a hunter tasked with venturing into the Forbidden Lands. This area has been untouched by humans for a long time until a group of hunters, including the main character, stumbles upon a young boy named Nata. He tells them about the Forbidden Lands and a monster called the “White Wraith” that attacked his people. The journey to the Forbidden Lands is supported by a cast of interesting NPCs, like Gemma, the blacksmith, and Anna, a seasoned hunter, who add depth and charm to the adventure. You also have your trusty Palico by your side, assisting not just in hunts but throughout your journey.

The game has a fairly accessible tutorial system, especially considering the 14 different weapons available. Hunters typically start with one main weapon, and a secondary weapon is unlocked after completing the initial quests. The game provides an easy-to-use interface to help you figure out which weapon suits your playstyle best. For me, it was the Gunlance, which offered a great balance of attack and defense, allowing me to get up close to monsters and take them down efficiently.

Each monster in the game is a masterpiece. The developers have put incredible effort into designing these creatures, giving them unique habitats, behaviors, and characteristics. The main story isn’t overly long, taking around 30 to 40 hours to complete if you focus on the main content. It’s not an extremely challenging game, and the developers have ensured that even solo players can summon AI hunters to assist during hunts, making it easier to tackle monsters without needing friends to join. Side activities like crafting, charms, and cooking also help make low-rank hunts more manageable, so the main story rarely feels too difficult.

Monster Hunter Wilds isn’t your typical action game. The weapons feel weighty and require precise strikes on the weak or damaged parts of monsters. The new Focus Mode mechanic makes this process easier by allowing you to target specific areas more effectively. Monsters can now become wounded if you repeatedly hit the same body part, exposing it and making it more vulnerable to further damage.

The story mode is highly cinematic, with plenty of cutscenes that detail every major event. These aren’t short clips either—many are lengthy, action-packed sequences that require minimal player input but keep you engaged. The game’s focus isn’t on fighting large groups of enemies but rather on taking down massive, fearsome beasts that can overwhelm you with a single attack. Quick shortcuts tied to trigger buttons let you summon hunters, use a whetstone, or heal on the fly, keeping the action smooth and intuitive.

The new gameplay additions include the ability to build traps to use against monsters. The environment plays a key role in this mechanic, allowing players to interact with specific parts of the map to set up traps or trigger them from a distance using the Slinger. You can choose to ignore these traps, but some hunts tie optional objectives to using them. Completing high-ranked hunts with these challenges leads to better rewards. Even just exploring the map to survey an area can result in unexpected encounters with wild monsters, some of which are more aggressive and short-tempered than others.

I tested the game on a PC with an RTX 3080, a mid-range CPU, and 32 GB of RAM, but even that setup struggled to maintain a stable 60 FPS. I had to tweak several settings, including turning off ray-tracing, to achieve the performance I wanted. After adjusting, most of my experience was smooth, though I did encounter traversal stutter while exploring the world on my 4K VRR display. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the game. The developers are still working on optimizations, so it’s likely that future patches will improve performance further.

Monster Hunter Wilds Game Information

• Price: $69.99
• Publisher: Capcom
• Developer: Capcom
• Platform: PC (Reviewed)
• Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher

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As of March 2, 2025, players reported several issues, including network errors when firing an SOS flare at the start of a quest, improper prioritization of Link Members in multiplayer lobbies, and Palico blunt weapon attacks failing to inflict stun and exhaust damage. While these problems remain under review, Capcom has already implemented fixes for a range of other issues with the March 4, 2025, update.

The latest patch, Ver. 1.000.04.00, resolves multiple game-breaking bugs. These include progression blockers in main missions, such as players falling through the map in Chapter 2-1 and an NPC failing to appear in Chapter 5-2. Other fixes include the inability to access the Monster Field Guide, a recurring tutorial bug at the Smithy, and unexpected skill activation when using mantles. Additionally, issues with weapon mechanics—such as the Insect Glaive’s Descending Slash causing the hunter to become unresponsive—have also been addressed. Capcom has also resolved rendering issues that led to force quits under certain conditions.

Monster Hunter Wilds March 4 Update

• The “Grill a Meal” and “Ingredient Center” features cannot be unlocked even after meeting the progress criteria.
• When heading to Azuz during Main Mission: Chapter 2-1 “Toward Fervent Fields,” players keep falling through the map.
• The Monster Field Guide cannot be accessed.
• During Main Mission: Chapter 5-2 “A World Turned Upside Down,” an NPC may not appear, preventing further progression.
• At the Smithy, an issue may occur where tutorials are repeatedly shown, disabling certain options in the menu.
• When guarding a monster’s attack with a lance using Power Guard under certain conditions, the weapon flashes in red but the effect is not activated
• When using a mantle, a Weapon Equipment Skill may mistakenly be activated.
• Some effects may be displayed continuously when using certain skills, such as Peak Performance and Self-Improvement.
• When successfully preforming an Offset Attack with the Insect Glaive’s Descending Slash under certain conditions, the hunter freezes and becomes unresponsive to any controls.
• Addressed issues that occurred under certain conditions with screen rendering and causing force quits.

To apply the update, players must restart their game after installing the patch, with the version number visible on the title screen.

Monster Hunter Wilds launched on February 28, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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Released on February 28, 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds expands upon the franchise’s core hunting mechanics with a dynamically evolving world where landscapes shift between harsh, monster-infested terrain and vibrant natural ecosystems. Powered by Capcom’s RE ENGINE, the game boasts visually striking environments and introduces cross-play, allowing players on different platforms to hunt together seamlessly.

Capcom attributes the game’s rapid success to a series of global promotional efforts. These included showcasing Monster Hunter Wilds at major gaming events, hosting an online open beta to engage players before launch, and providing regular updates through digital events like the Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase. This aggressive marketing strategy helped generate immense excitement, leading to record-breaking sales.

The Monster Hunter franchise has been a significant success for Capcom, with the series selling over 108 million units as of December 31, 2024. Since its debut in 2004, the franchise has popularized cooperative hunting gameplay, allowing players to team up and take down formidable creatures together.

MH Wilds had a record-breaking launch on PC, debuting in the top five games for concurrent player count on Steam. This is an impressive milestone, as the game attracted nearly 1 million more concurrent players at launch compared to its predecessor. However, the PC version has encountered several issues and faced criticism from fans. Capcom is currently working to address the reported problems with the game.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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Monster Hunter Wilds offers 3 graphics modes on PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X, namely Resolution, Balanced and Performance. As far as graphical settings are concerned, the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are identical, while the PS5 Pro version delivers ray traced reflections in Resolution and Balanced modes and improved shadows and better draw distance across the board. Other differences come in terms of resolution and frame rate. Both areas play a primary role in determining the best graphics mode for each console.

PS5

The base PS5 version commonly runs at a resolution of 900p and targets a frame rate of 60 fps in Performance mode. It makes a considerable compromise in terms of image quality, particularly for those playing on a 4K TV. While not ideal, for those limited to a 60 Hz display, this is the recommended way to play Monster Hunter Wilds.

Those playing on a 120 Hz display have the option to play in Balanced mode, which commonly runs at a resolution of 1224p and targets a frame rate of 40 fps. This mode is recommended for those who looking for the middle ground between Resolution and Performance mode.

On a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) supported display, it’s possible to unlock the frame rate in all 3 graphics modes. This allows Balanced mode to run above 40 fps where possible. Unfortunately, the PS5 version of Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t support Low Frame Rate Compensation (LFC), meaning that frame rates below 48 fps won’t be covered by the VRR window, resulting in judder. As such,players are recommended to disable unlocked frame rate and choose between Balanced and Performance mode according to their preferred compromises.

Xbox Series X

Like the PS5 version, the Xbox Series X version commonly runs at a resolution of 900p and targets a frame rate of 60 fps in Performance mode. It makes a considerable compromise in terms of image quality, particularly for those playing on a 4K TV. While not ideal, for those limited to a 60 Hz display, this is the recommended way to play Monster Hunter Wilds.

Those playing on a 120 Hz display have the option to play in Balanced mode, which commonly runs at a resolution of 1224p and targets a frame rate of 40 fps. This mode is recommended for those who looking for the middle ground between Resolution and Performance mode.

On a VRR supported display, it’s possible to unlock the frame rate in all 3 graphics modes. This allows Balanced mode to run above 40 fps where possible. Unlike the PS5 version, however, the Xbox Series X version of Monster Hunter Wilds does support Low Frame Rate Compensation (LFC), meaning that the minimum threshold of the VRR window is below 30 fps. As such, players won’t experience judder while also benefiting from frame rates above 40 fps. Therefore, Balanced mode gets our recommendation for those playing the Xbox Series X version on a 120 Hz VRR supported display.

PS5 Pro

The PS5 Pro version commonly runs at a resolution of 1080p with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and targets a frame rate of 60 fps in Performance mode. Image quality is, therefore, much superior to base PS5 and Xbox Series X in Performance mode. Just like the base console, the PS5 Pro version of Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t support LFC. As such, regardless of display, the recommended way to play the game is in Performance mode. Additionally, those playing on a 120 Hz and VRR supported display may unlock the frame rate to go above 60 fps where possible.

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The PC version of Monster Hunter Wilds launched in an unoptimized state, and PS5 Pro players are arguably calling Sony Interactive Entertainment’s mid-gen console the best place to play the title. Upon experiencing performance issues with Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam, one player ended up claiming a refund and instead opting to purchase it on PS5 Pro. According to them, the game somehow looks and runs better on the console than on their high-end PC. They pointed out that Capcom’s other recent open world action role-playing game, Dragon’s Dogma 2, suffered from similar issues.

Upon seeing the discussion surrounding technical issues with the PC version of Monster Hunter Wilds, one individual with access to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 and AMD Ryzen 5800X3D equipped system as well as a PS5 Pro wondered whether they should get the game on console and deal with slight blurriness rather than dealing with hitching and crashing on PC. In response, they were reminded that Digital Foundry highlighted PS5 Pro as the best console version. Another user recommended that they should stick to the PS5 Pro version for now, as they issues with the PC version will likely that quite some time to get fixed.

In one fan’s opinion, there are only two ways to properly play the action role-playing game right now. One is a high-end PC with top-of-the-line components, and the second is a PS5 Pro. According to them, both offer the extra horsepower to brute force performance over their respective lower-end counterparts. Conversely, another player seems to believe that no version of the game is playable. They criticized PC users running it on mid-end systems for claiming their game looks and runs fine, saying they are either lying or don’t know what “fine” stands for. On the other hand, they were also critical of PS5 players for claiming that the console version, which looks like a PS3 game in their view, is “fine”.

In its analysis of the PC version, Digital Foundry pointed out that a high-end GPU will only be able to brute force the game’s technical shortcomings to a degree. These findings were supported by a PC player, who said that running Monster Hunter Wilds on an NVIDIA RTX 4090 will yield a high frame rate, but it will not get rid of stuttering issues, which will occur on all PC configurations running the game. Despite this, they opted to play on PC because they can “stomach it”.

Meanwhile, one player argued that there’s no doubt Monster Hunter Wilds will look better on PC, but if frame time consistency is the primary concern, as it is theirs, PS5 Pro is the currently better choice currently. A PC player responded by saying that their frame times are “very good” when targeting 60 fps. As per them, PS5 Pro is a choice, but not the defacto best in any way.

Based on our own experience with both versions, there is some truth to both sides of the debate. Digital Foundry’s findings correctly mention that high-end systems can brute force some of the technical issues found in the PC version, while others persist regardless of specs. Meanwhile, the PS5 Pro running in Performance mode requires a sacrifice on graphics, including ray traced reflections, but it delivers mostly consistent frame times.

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Before we delve into the best settings for Monster Hunter Wilds on PC, make sure you’ve updated your GPU drivers and Windows to their latest respective versions. Additionally, disable or close any unnecessary background applications in order to reduce the CPU overhead as much as possible. The settings detailed ahead should provide a more optimized balance between graphics and frame rate compared to the presets available in-game.

Monster Hunter Wilds Best Settings

The settings below are there to serve as a broad starting point for further optimization based on your specific hardware specs. As a result, you may need to further tweak some settings until you find a sweet spot based on your display’s refresh rate and the overall performance you seek.

DISPLAY

• Screen Mode​: Windowed Fullscreen
• Screen Resolution: as per the max resolution of your display or preference
• Uncapped Frame Rate: uncapped  on a VRR or G-Sync supported display, otherwise capped to preferred frame rate
• Cutscene Frame Rate: Off
• Background Frame Rate: Off
• V-Sync: Enable on a VRR or G-Sync supported display, otherwise Disable

GRAPHICS

• Cutscene Graphics: Do Not Adjust Separately
• Upscaling: NVIDIA DLSS 3 if supported by GPU, else FSR 3
• Upscaling Mode: Quality
• Ray Tracing: Medium
• Texture Quality: High on GPUs with 10 GB or higher VRAM, Medium on GPUs with 8 GB or lower VRAM
• Texture Filtering Quality: Highest (ANISO x 16)
• Fur Quality: High
• Ambient Occlusion: Medium
• Sky/Cloud Quality: Medium
• Grass/Tree Quality: High
• Grass/Tree Sway: Enable
• Wind Simulation Quality: High
• Water Effects: Enable
• Shadow Quality: High
• Distant Shadow Quality: High
• Shadow Distance: Medium
• Ambient Light Quality: High
• Contact Shadows: Enable
• Bloom: High
• Motion Blur: Off
• SSS Scattering: On
• Depth of Field: On
• Volumetric Fog: High
• Variable Rate Shading: Off

Does Monster Hunter Wilds Run On Steam Deck?

As seen in the video above, even at the lowest settings, Monster Hunter Wilds runs at a highly variable frame rate on Steam Deck, usually hovering in the 20 to 30 fps range during gameplay and occasionally dipping into the 10s during stressful instances with a lot of on-screen activity. As such, the game isn’t particularly playable on Valve’s handheld device.

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The developer has released a comprehensive list of known problems impacting Monster Hunter Wilds across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players have reported various technical difficulties, including failures to launch the game, missing sound or cutscenes, and other performance-related concerns. To help address these issues, Capcom has provided several troubleshooting steps, particularly for the PC version available on Steam.

Common Issues and Fixes for PC (Steam)

Issue: The game does not run properly (e.g., failure to launch, missing sound or cutscenes).

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check System Requirements – Ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements.
2. Update Graphics Drivers – Install the latest drivers for your graphics card.
3. Update Windows – Ensure all Windows updates are installed.
4. Perform a Clean Installation of Graphics Drivers – Uninstall and reinstall the latest drivers.
5. Update DirectX – Download and install the latest version of DirectX from Microsoft.
6. Add Exceptions in Antivirus Software – Add the following folders and files to your antivirus program’s exception list:
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds\MonsterHunterWilds.exe
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe
7. Run Steam with Administrator Privileges – Right-click Steam.exe and select “Run as administrator.”
8. Run the Game as an Administrator – Log into your PC as an administrator and run MonsterHunterWilds.exe.
9. Verify Game Files on Steam –
   • Restart Steam and go to the Library section.
   • Right-click on Monster Hunter Wilds and select “Properties.”
   • Under the “Installed Files” tab, click “Verify integrity of game files.”
   • Allow Steam to complete the verification process.
10. Disable Compatibility Mode –
    • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\MonsterHunterWilds.
    • Right-click on MonsterHunterWilds.exe and select “Properties.”
    • Open the “Compatibility” tab and uncheck “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”
    • Repeat the process for Steam.exe if necessary.

Additional Troubleshooting

If the above solutions do not resolve the issue, Capcom advises players to consult the official Monster Hunter Wilds Troubleshooting & Issue Reporting Thread on Steam. This thread contains further detailed steps and potential fixes that may help in resolving technical problems. Players experiencing persistent issues can visit the following link:

Monster Hunter Wilds Troubleshooting & Issue Reporting Thread

Capcom continues to monitor these issues and will likely release further updates to improve the game’s performance across all platforms. Players are encouraged to stay updated with official announcements for additional fixes and patches.

Monster Hunter Wilds is out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S|X.

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Despite hitting a record-breaking concurrent player count of more than 1 million on Steam, Monster Hunter Wilds is facing mostly negative reviews on the platform. Players have cited poor optimization, bugs, and performance issues as the primary reason behind their dissatisfaction with the game.

Only a few hours after its launch today on February 28, 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds reached an all-time concurrent player peak of 1,307,976 (as of writing), surpassing the all-time peaks of Dota 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elden Ring. In comparison, Monster Hunter: World achieved an all-time peak of 334,684 players and Monster Hunter Rise achieved an all-time peak of 231,360 players. A day one release has worked wonders for the latest entry, allowing it to achieve a significantly larger player base compared to prior entries. The availability of crossplay between the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC – a first for the series – versions of the game will undoubtedly encourage a healthier community for years to come.

Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the PC version of Monster Hunter Wilds currently suffers from some major performance issues that need to be ironed out before they impact the strong momentum that the game is experiencing at the moment. At the High texture setting, the game runs with some blatantly low-resolution and buggy textures. The Highest texture setting can be selected by downloading a high resolution texture pack, but enabling it adds frame time hitches as a result of the game streaming in large chunks of assets.

Even on the High setting, a GPU with 8 GB of VRAM will run Monster Hunter Wilds with frame time stutters due to streaming. Dropping the setting down to Medium will eliminate major hitches on such GPU configurations, but the frame rate will remain unstable. Simply moving the camera around leads to noticeable drops in performance, suggesting that the game’s streaming system, which takes advantage of the DirectStorage API, is likely not functioning as intended.

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