Monster Hunter Wilds launched like a supernova. Honestly, seeing those Day 1 numbers in February 2025 was wild—nearly 1.4 million people on Steam alone trying to cram through the server gates at once. It was Capcom's biggest moment ever. Fast forward to early 2026, and the vibe has shifted in a way nobody really saw coming.
The Monster Hunter Wilds player count currently sits at a daily peak of about 40,000 to 60,000 players on Steam. That sounds like a lot, right? In the grand scheme of gaming, it’s a healthy number. But here’s the kicker: Monster Hunter World, a game that came out nearly eight years ago, is frequently nipping at its heels or even beating it during off-peak hours.
The Brutal Reality of the Numbers
If you look at the raw data from the last 30 days, we're seeing a massive drop-off from that initial million-player high. Most big AAA games lose players after launch—that’s just the lifecycle of a non-live-service title. But Wilds has had a particularly rocky road.
By the time the game hit its three-month mark in May 2025, it had already shed about 90% of its concurrent Steam audience. That is a much steeper decline than what we saw with Monster Hunter World or even Rise. Why? Basically, it comes down to two things: performance and "The Grind."
While Wilds sold over 10 million copies within its first month, the "Mixed" review status on Steam (currently hovering around 53% positive) tells the real story. Players with mid-range PCs are still struggling to maintain 60 FPS in the Windward Plains, and the console version on PS5—which Capcom actually considered the "main" platform—suffered because of steep hardware entry costs.
A Quick Snapshot of the Current Population
- Peak Launch (Feb/March 2025): ~1,384,000 (Steam only)
- Early 2026 Daily Peak: ~38,000 – 42,000
- Recent Growth: We actually saw a 23% bump in the last 30 days thanks to the Winter Title Update.
- Console vs PC: While we don't have live "SteamDB" style charts for PS5 and Xbox, Capcom's financial reports suggest the PC version actually carries the majority of the active Western player base right now.
Why People are Abandoning the Forbidden Lands
It’s not that Wilds is a bad game. Far from it. The Seikret mounting system is a godsend and the seamless transition between the village and the field feels like the future. But "content" is a fickle beast.
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A lot of veterans feel the endgame loop in Wilds—at least before the most recent updates—felt a bit thin compared to the massive "Investigation" system in World. There was a weird period in late 2025 where the Monster Hunter Wilds player count dipped below 20,000. During that same week, Monster Hunter World saw a resurgence, with 25,000+ players going back to hunt Fatalis.
It’s sort of a "complete experience" problem. People would rather play a 2018 game that is "finished" and runs at 144 FPS than a 2025 game that still feels like it's finding its legs.
Is the Game "Dying"?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It's just settling into the "Title Update" rhythm.
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Capcom has been aggressive with patches. The 1.05 and 1.10 updates fixed the egregious "polygon-man" character glitches and improved CPU optimization. Every time a new monster drops—like the recent return of a certain fan-favorite flagship—the numbers spike back up over 100,000 for a weekend.
Also, crossplay has changed the math. Even if the Steam count looks lower than World at its prime, you’re now matching with players on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The actual "Active Population" is much higher than what SteamCharts shows you. Finding a SOS flare for a Rathalos hunt still takes less than ten seconds.
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What This Means for You
If you’re looking at these numbers and wondering if it’s too late to hop in, don’t sweat it. The community is incredibly active, especially on Discord and Reddit. The "true" Monster Hunter experience usually starts when the G-Rank (or Master Rank) expansion drops, which, if history repeats itself, should be teased sometime later this year.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your specs again: Recent optimization patches mean you might be able to turn off Frame Generation and still get a stable experience.
- Focus on the Title Updates: Don't burn yourself out grinding the base endgame; wait for the seasonal events where the player count triples.
- Enable Crossplay: If you’re on PC, make sure this is ON in your settings. It’s the only way to tap into the massive Japanese PlayStation player base that doesn't show up on Steam charts.