Capcom’sMonster Hunter Wildsis off to a roaring start, setting the record for the biggest physical launch of any PlayStation 5 game in Japan.Even in an era where digital sales dominate, the latest installment of the legendary action RPG franchise proves that physical games still matter—especially forMonster Hunterfans.
According toFamitsu, as translated byEurogamer,Monster Hunter Wildssold an impressive 1.5 million physical copies in Japan in its first week, making it the top-performing boxed launch for a PS5 title in Japan. While some might compare this to pastMonster Huntergames and assume it’s a decline, the reality is far more nuanced.
Monster Hunter Wilds Just Keeps Breaking Records
Why Physical Sales Tell Only Part of the Story
Selling 1.5 million physical copies is a major achievement, but the landscape of gaming is shifting. Compared toMonster Hunter: WorldandMonster Hunter Rise,Wildshas seen a lower percentage of physical purchases. This is not because it’s underperforming; this is due to more players opting for digital downloads or PC versions.The rise of digital gaming in Japan has been a key factor in these lower physical sales trends. While pastMonster Huntertitles relied heavily on physical releases, more players now prefer the convenience of digital purchases.
This meansWilds’ total sales—including digital and PC—could be significantly higherthan initial reports suggest.Despite these shifts,Monster Hunter Wildsstill appears to dominate the physical market in Japan.While it may not surpass the boxed sales of olderMonster Hunterentries, the fact that it’s breaking PS5 records proves that Capcom’s flagship franchise remains a juggernaut.
Why Monster Hunter Wilds Is Still a Huge Success
One major factor influencingWilds’ performance is PlayStation’s slower adoption in Japan. Unlike past generations, the PS4 and PS5 didn’t gain traction as quickly as the PS2 or PSP, which once dominated the Japanese gaming scene.Handheld and mobile gaming have become the country’s preferred platforms,leading to a moregradual PlayStation player base growth.
ThoughMonster Hunter Wildshas beensoaring through major milestones, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t come with its fair share of issues. Players have been vocal about its lack of PC optimization, frequent crashes, and the title freezing up randomly throughout their playthrough.
Moreover, fans were upset with the game-breaking bugs that blocked player progression. Luckily, Capcomrolled out fixesfor most of the known bugs rather quickly, but fans are still waiting for optimization fixes to enjoy all thatMonster Hunter Wildshas to offer.
