Capcom’s leadership has publicly linked the weaker sales of its latest title, Monster Hunter Wilds, to the high price of the PlayStation 5 console. The game received critical praise and impressive initial sales figures, reaching eight million units in its first three days and becoming the fastest-selling game in the company’s history. However, the company’s president, Haruhito Tsujimoto, mentioned in a recent interview with Nikkei Gaming that sales later slowed down. This highlights a major barrier for consumers.
Tsujimoto pointed out the price of the PS5, which is around 80,000 yen ($540 USD) in Japan, as the main issue. When you add in costs for accessories, games, and optional subscription services, the total can easily go over 100,000 yen ($675 USD). This is a hefty amount for many consumers, especially younger players with limited spending money. This problem isn’t exclusive to Japan, as Sony has also increased the console’s price in other key markets due to tough economic conditions and currency fluctuations. Capcom’s financial reports back this up, showing a significant drop in sales to 477,000 copies in the quarter from April to June.
However, a closer look at the situation reveals that the console’s price might not be the only issue hurting the game’s long-term success. Recent player reviews on Steam have switched to a “Mostly Negative” rating, with many users unhappy about ongoing performance problems on PC and a perceived lack of engaging endgame content. While Capcom has promised to fix these technical and design issues in future updates, current player feedback indicates a possible internal problem with the game itself.
While the price of a new gaming console is definitely an important factor for players worldwide, it’s crucial to remember that a game’s lasting success also depends on its quality and player satisfaction. The combined challenges of hardware costs and declining player sentiment create a more complicated picture than just blaming the console’s price. The sales halt of Monster Hunter Wilds could serve as an important case study for the industry, emphasizing the delicate balance between market conditions and the expectations of a dedicated player base.
