The Latest Monster Hunter Release Falling Behind The Previous Game in Unit Sales

The developer revealed that Monster Hunter Wilds has moved 10.7 million copies following its release on the 27th of February. Although this seems substantial, the new title is losing ground by its four-year-old predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise, which sold approximately 150,000 more units in the last financial quarter.

Performance Metrics Of the Two Titles

By June's close, Capcom reported Monster Hunter Wilds had sold roughly 10.5 million units. Now, the total stands at 10.7 million. Meanwhile, 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 often have long sales tails. As an example, Rise sold 7.5 million copies in its first six months, but required two years and a multiplatform launch to reach the 12 million mark. Still, it's quite rare for a previous game to outsell a new release, particularly in the early post-release period.

Community Feedback and Frequent Criticisms

Capcom did not comment on this anomaly in its financial report. However, a quick look at various Monster Hunter communities offers clues into the preference for earlier games. Frequent complaints include:

• Large maps with no exploration incentives
• Hunts considered too easy by veterans
• Weak endgame content
• Minimal challenge and advancement feeling
• Ongoing performance issues on PC

Post-Launch Support Comparison

Above all, infrequent post-release support is notable. The developer provided a regular update schedule for Monster Hunter Rise following launch. When it hit 7.5 million sales in September 2021, Rise had benefited from six significant updates that added fresh creatures, enhanced challenge options, and regular missions. In the same timeframe, Wilds has had five patches, some of which only added cosmetics or slightly tweaked existing hunts.

Admittedly, a portion of the earlier game's patches focused on crossover content, but Wilds has seen few collaborations. Rise included crossovers with popular franchises in its first five months. Wilds has seen just a Street Fighter event and a Final Fantasy XIV crossover.

Four months have passed since Capcom added a new monster to Wilds, and only three fresh critters have appeared post-release. Rise got three new monsters in month two 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 yet. The message is clear.