Monster Hunter Wilds has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most-played games on Steam following its launch on February 28, despite receiving mixed reviews due to performance issues. As the highly anticipated successor to Monster Hunter World and Rise, two of Capcom’s best-selling titles, Wilds has already surpassed the 1 million concurrent player mark on Steam, making it Capcom’s most-played PC game ever. However, optimization concerns have led to a flood of complaints from players, affecting the game’s early reception.

From the outset, Monster Hunter Wilds was expected to be a massive success. Even before its official release, the game topped Steam’s best-selling charts through preorders alone. Now that it is available, sales are likely to continue climbing, especially as players who were hesitant to preorder make their purchases. The co-op nature of the game also encourages new players to join, as existing fans invite their friends to take part in monster-hunting adventures.

Set in the Forbidden Lands, Monster Hunter Wilds immerses players in a vast world filled with formidable creatures to hunt. While the series has traditionally prioritized gameplay over storytelling, some fans have voiced a desire for a more engaging narrative. Regardless, the appeal of challenging hunts, intricate mechanics, and co-op play continues to be the main attraction for players.

Despite its strong player count, technical issues have marred the experience for many. Steam user reviews currently rate the game as ‘mixed,’ with common complaints centered around frame rate drops, crashes, and poor optimization on PC. Some players report experiencing frequent crashes, sometimes occurring multiple times per hour, both at startup and during gameplay. Others have criticized the game’s textures and assets, calling them subpar for a modern release. Some players have described Wilds as nearly unplayable due to these performance issues, expressing disappointment that what could have been a great launch has instead been hindered by technical shortcomings.

Capcom has acknowledged the issues and provided a troubleshooting guide for PC players, advising steps such as updating drivers and adjusting compatibility settings. Console players encountering problems are recommended to use Performance Mode to improve stability. While these solutions may help some, many are still struggling with the game’s technical limitations.

Even with these issues, Wilds remains immensely popular. It has already surpassed other major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, and Baldur’s Gate 3 in concurrent player numbers on Steam. The next milestone would be surpassing Lost Ark, which peaked at around 1.325 million players. Given the surge in activity over launch weekend, it is possible Wilds could reach or exceed this number.

Capcom has consistently built on past successes rather than starting from scratch, refining the Monster Hunter series based on player feedback. This has kept the franchise engaging while improving gameplay with each new release. If Capcom continues to support Monster Hunter Wilds with updates and patches to fix performance issues, the game has the potential to sustain its popularity and become another lasting success.

While the game’s launch has been met with some disappointment due to technical difficulties, its immense popularity suggests a bright future. With Capcom working to resolve these early setbacks, Wilds is poised to remain a dominant force in the gaming landscape for years to come.