Capcom's president attributes PlayStation 5's pricing as the reason for sluggish sales of Monster Hunter World, and we, at PC Gamer, are attempting to remain impartial regarding this statement.
In a recent announcement, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, President of Capcom, has declared the PlayStation 5 (PS5) as the "main platform" for the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds. This statement was made in the context of the game's development and marketing, with a release date set for 2025.
Why is this important?
The designation of the PS5 as the main platform indicates that Capcom views the console's technical capabilities and target audience as crucial for the development and player experience of Monster Hunter Wilds. This could have several potential implications:
- Technology: The PS5 offers powerful hardware that enables complex graphics, larger game worlds, and faster load times. Developers can leverage these advantages to optimise the game specifically for the PS5.
- Exclusive Content: There could be time-limited or permanent exclusive content, features, or earlier releases for the PS5.
- Marketing: Sony can promote the game more intensively as a "PlayStation-title", which increases attention and interest among PS5 owners.
Impact on Monster Hunter Wilds Sales
Positive Impacts
- Strong Start: Clearly communicating the main platform can boost sales on the PS5, particularly at launch, as PS5 owners perceive the game as a flagship title for their console.
- Technical Superiority: If Monster Hunter Wilds runs best on the PS5, it will motivate many players to choose the platform.
- Advertising and Bundles: Sony could sell the game in bundles or special offers, further boosting sales.
Potential Drawbacks
- Other Platforms: The focus on the PS5 could slow sales on PC, Xbox Series X/S, or other platforms, especially if there are no equivalent content or technical features offered.
- Negative Reactions: Players on other platforms could feel disadvantaged, potentially leading to negative feedback on social media or lower ratings on other platforms.
Conclusion
Capcom's strategy to orient Monster Hunter Wilds primarily towards the PS5 is likely to significantly boost sales on this platform. However, Capcom also aims to release the game on other platforms to maximise overall sales. The decision to name a "main platform" is primarily a question of prioritisation and marketing – with positive, but also potential risks for brand perception and sales outside of the PS5.
For fans and potential buyers, this means that Monster Hunter Wilds will offer a particularly polished and optimised experience on the PS5, but is still planned for multiple platforms. The final impact on sales depends on how Capcom and Sony market the game and how the community on other platforms reacts.
It's worth noting that Monster Hunter Wilds sold 10 million copies at launch, but has since sold 477,000 in the past quarter as of July this year. The author, Harvey Randall, is a fan of Monster Hunter Wilds and has a history with games, having written for various websites. Despite not owning a PS5, Randall's PC has an RTX 3060, and he has experienced major performance issues with Monster Hunter Wilds on PC. Capcom's president, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, has stated that the main obstacle for Monster Hunter Wilds is the high cost of the PS5. Interestingly, last year, more than 60% of Monster Hunter Wilds sales were on PC.
Harvey Randall, the author of this article, prefers a variety of genres, including RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and indie titles. In his free time, he enjoys playing tabletop RPGs.
