Before its global launch, *Monster Hunter Wilds* shattered pre-order records on Steam and PlayStation, mirroring the phenomenal success of its predecessors, *Monster Hunter Rise* (2022) and *Monster Hunter: World* (2018). This achievement solidified Capcom's unique RPG series as a major player in the global video game market. However, this wasn't always the case.
Less than a decade ago, such widespread global popularity would have seemed improbable. The original 2004 release received mixed reviews. It wasn't until the 2005 PSP release that the series truly took off—in Japan. For years, *Monster Hunter* exemplified the "bigger in Japan" phenomenon. While the reasons are multifaceted, Capcom persistently sought to expand the series' international appeal. *Monster Hunter: World*, *Rise*, and now *Wilds* demonstrate the success of this endeavor.
This is the story of *Monster Hunter*'s journey from domestic darling to global powerhouse.
Around the launch of *Street Fighter 5* in 2016, Capcom underwent an internal restructuring to prepare for a new generation of games powered by the RE Engine, replacing the aging MT Framework. This wasn't merely a technological shift; it involved a mandate to create games appealing to a global audience, not just existing regional fans. Hideaki Itsuno, a former Capcom game director known for *Devil May Cry*, explains: “The change of the engine, and all teams were given a very clear goal at that point to make games that reach the global market. Games that are fun for everyone.”
Capcom's PS3 and Xbox 360 era titles often seemed to target a perceived "Western games market." While *Resident Evil 4* was a hit, titles like *Umbrella Corps* and the *Lost Planet* series, chasing late-2000s Western trends, fell short. Capcom realized the need for broader appeal.
“I think that we had that clear goal of just focusing and not holding anything back,” Itsuno says, “towards making good games that would reach people from all over the world.” The period leading up to the 2017 launch of *Resident Evil 7* proved pivotal, marking a Capcom renaissance.
No series better exemplifies this global focus than *Monster Hunter*. While it had Western fans, it was significantly larger in Japan. This wasn't intentional; several factors contributed.
The PSP release, *Monster Hunter Freedom Unite*, proved crucial. Japan's robust handheld gaming market, fueled by strong wireless internet infrastructure, allowed for seamless multiplayer experiences—years ahead of the West. Ryozo Tsujimoto, the series' executive producer, notes: “20 years ago, Japan was in a very, very solid state in terms of the network environments available to people, and being able to connect and to play online together… By moving over to handheld systems, we were able to grow that player base that was interacting and playing multiplayer together.”
This created a cycle: Japanese success led to Japan-centric content, reinforcing the "Japan-only" perception. Western fans watched enviously. However, as Western internet infrastructure improved, Tsujimoto saw an opportunity.
The 2018 release of *Monster Hunter: World* on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC marked a significant shift. It delivered AAA console quality, larger scales, and bigger monsters. Tsujimoto explains the naming choice: “The fact that we called it *Monster Hunter: World* is really kind of a nod to the fact that we wanted to appeal to this worldwide audience.”
Simultaneous worldwide release and the elimination of Japan-exclusive content were vital. Tsujimoto and his team conducted extensive global playtests to refine the game's design for broader appeal. “We did focus tests and user tests across the world… the feedback and the opinions that we got during that really affected how we designed our game systems and really affected how much success we had as a global title for that game,” Tsujimoto says.
One key change was displaying damage numbers. These subtle improvements propelled *Monster Hunter* to unprecedented heights. Previous titles sold 1.3 to 5 million copies; *World* and *Rise* each surpassed 20 million.
This growth wasn't accidental. Instead of altering *Monster Hunter*'s core, Capcom made it more accessible without sacrificing its essence. This continues with *Wilds*. Tsujimoto explains: “At its heart, *Monster Hunter* really is an action game… But for newer players, it's really getting to that point. The steps involved in getting to that sense of accomplishment is really what we're trying to strategize for… And all of that kind of knowledge has impacted how we've implemented new systems into Wilds.”
Within 35 minutes of release, *Monster Hunter Wilds* reached 738,000 concurrent Steam players, surpassing *World*'s peak. Positive reviews and promised future content suggest *Wilds* will continue the series' global conquest.
