The Chaotic Launch and Subsequent Backlash of Capcom's "The Wilderness of the Demonic Hunter"
Capcom's 2025 release, "The Wilderness of the Demonic Hunter" (MWL Wilderness), experienced a meteoric rise followed by a dramatic fall from grace. Initially, the game captivated players and broke records, but within months, it faced a wave of criticism and negative reviews. This article explores the reasons behind this sharp decline in player satisfaction.
Initial Success and Record-Breaking Sales
"The Wilderness of the Demonic Hunter" launched in February 2025 and quickly achieved unprecedented success. Within three days, it sold 8 million copies worldwide, becoming Capcom's fastest-selling title ever. The first month saw sales exceeding 10 million, fueled by high anticipation and excitement within the Monster Hunter community.
The First Update and Initial Disappointment
In April, the game received its first large-scale free update, introducing the monster Cannon Hulong. Subsequently, the King of War, Thunder Dragon, was also added. However, despite a brief surge in online users following these updates, the player base on Steam plummeted by over 90% within three months. The game's Japanese market share even fell below that of the older "Monster Hunter World."
Players' Complaints and Criticisms
Many players expressed dissatisfaction with the content update strategy, feeling that Capcom was intentionally withholding content for future releases. The frequency of updates was also criticized as being slower compared to previous Monster Hunter titles. The first major update added only one new fire dragon, leading to further frustration.
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Disassembled Content: Players felt that core content, such as the Grand Hub and High Ranks Oshia, should have been included at launch instead of being released as free updates.
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Slow Update Cycle: The update schedule was perceived as drawn out, with some players comparing it to buying a car one part at a time.
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Optimization Issues: Numerous players, particularly those overseas, reported persistent performance problems, including lags, frame rate drops, and crashes, even after updates.
Official Response and Player Reaction
Capcom acknowledged the performance issues and suggested a manual workaround involving deleting a save file. However, this solution was met with criticism, as players felt that the company should have fixed the problem internally rather than relying on players to manually adjust game files.
Lack of Content and Difficulty
Another major point of criticism was the perceived lack of content. Players felt the main storyline was short, and the number of monsters was limited. Additionally, the game's overall difficulty was reduced, leading to a less rewarding experience for veteran Monster Hunter players. The fast rhythm of the game made the demand for graduation equipment decline.
Player Uprising and Shareholder Meeting
Frustrated by the lack of response to their concerns, players organized a campaign to flood the game with negative reviews before Capcom's shareholder meeting on June 20th. The goal was to draw the attention of shareholders to the game's issues and pressure the company to take action.
Sony's Accidental "Leak" and Renewed Disappointment
Just before Capcom's official announcement, Sony inadvertently revealed details about the upcoming update, including the addition of the Sea Dragon and other content. However, this "leak" only served to highlight the perceived lack of substantial content, with players anticipating a short burst of gameplay followed by another long wait for the next update.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding "The Wilderness of the Demonic Hunter" stems from a combination of slow updates, limited content, and persistent optimization issues. While many players appreciate the core gameplay, they are frustrated by what they perceive as a deliberate strategy to prolong engagement by withholding content. The player uprising before the shareholder meeting underscores the desire for Capcom to address these concerns and deliver a more complete and satisfying gaming experience.
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