Steam Numbers
Today, when you ask how many players are playing Monster Hunter Wilds, we sadly answer that it is nowhere near the launch day figure.
Compared to previous Monster Hunter installments, the release of Monster Hunter Wilds was one of Capcom’s biggest gaming moments, it truly felt like a global event. Right after launch, the Steam numbers skyrocketed. We witnessed peak concurrent players reaching 1,384,608 at once. With this massive number, the game became the biggest PC launch in the franchise’s history. At that time, even Monster Hunter: World looked like just a warm-up for Capcom.
However, things changed fast. In less than a year, the numbers dropped sharply from that incredible launch peak. As of January 2026, Steam now shows roughly 33,500 concurrent players online at any given moment. During peak hours, the daily player count usually reaches around 62,000, a far cry from its early highs.
Compared to March 2025, this marks a decline of over 97%. The average player count has steadily fallen month after month. From around 318,000 in March, it slipped to about 123,000 in December 2025, and now sits near 36,000 on average. Despite the drop, Monster Hunter Wilds still maintains a loyal and active community across all platforms.
Why Did The Numbers Drop So Hard?
The initial release was like a party, but things soon caught up with reality.
Monster Hunter Wilds had performance problems that damaged its reputation. Steam reviews fell to “Overwhelmingly Negative” as users lambasted its optimization on numerous hardware configurations. Even top‑tier PCs were suffering, which left much of the base player frustrated.
Although a lot of them took a shot with the first big title update in April, the influx was short-lived. Steam peak doubled for a moment, then dropped back down as additional issues came up. The long gap between major patches did not assist. The following large content drop, known as Update 2, comes June 30, and a lot of gamers hope that will stabilize the exodus.
While the Steam figures are dire, the console release tells another story. Xbox Series X/S owners give it 4.3 stars, with more than 60,000 PlayStation Store reviews averaging a stunning 4.49 stars. This disparity indicates that the Steam version was impacted more by issues of performance and technicality rather than the overall quality of the game.
Impact on Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds remains a good offering for those who are able to play it successfully. It brought a bigger map and more complex mechanics than its predecessors. Yet the Steam statistics are harsh proof that a robust start doesn’t confirm long‑term involvement.
For PCs, average drop has been immense. From 1.38 million at the launch to around 9,000 daily players is an uncommon decline. But it doesn’t kill the franchise.
Will Monster Hunter Wilds Rebound?
Capcom is well aware how to create long‑term loyalty. Monster Hunter World launched with a bang, experienced its own post‑launch issues, and became one of the franchise’s best‑sellers.
The same can be true here, however, if future patches address lingering issues and provide meaningful content.
For the time being, PC gamers will have to wait for those patches. Steam figures do not paint the entire picture, but they clearly indicate a sudden dip brought about by technical blunders.
Getting The Most Out Of Monster Hunter Wilds
While the Steam version falters, the franchise is hardly dead. Its console versions continue to thrive, and future updates can potentially regain PC hunters. Ultimately, Monster Hunter Wilds has too much to offer to be overlooked for too long.
For those who are still invested in the hunt, you can make quick gains and shave hours of grind away. MitchCactus offers Monster Hunter Wilds Items Boost for Xbox and PS5 that can save you days of grinding. We assist you in getting rare tickets, spheres, relics, and ancient weapon fragments without taking forever, opening end-game builds up.
It’s one means for serious players to bypass the bottleneck and on to the best fights the game has to offer.
