Microtransaction pricing remains a problem in video games and has become a hot topic, especially when buying a base game already costs around $60 to $80. The same issue applies to how Capcom is handling Monster Hunter Wilds' wide range of in-game cosmetics.
A user on the r/MonsterHunter subreddit pointed out that if you were to purchase all the cosmetics in the game, including the new ones from the Festival of Accord: Flamefete event, you’d end up spending enough to buy the base game four times. And that number keeps climbing with every major update.
On paper, this might seem like a minor concern, but in the long run, it could lead to more serious problems for the franchise. Monster Hunter has never been known for aggressive or controversial microtransactions. Most rewards were traditionally unlocked just by playing the game and progressing through post-game content. Unfortunately, the franchise has now fallen victim to the modern trend.
No matter how much Capcom tries to deny it, Monster Hunter has clearly shifted into a live-service model. That means delivering regular updates to keep players coming back. It started with Monster Hunter World. When Capcom saw how profitable DLCs and cosmetics could be, they leaned even harder into it with Iceborne. Rise and Sunbreak followed suit, and Wilds has continued the pattern. The same approach is also being seen in their other titles, such as the heavily debated Dragon’s Dogma 2.
In Wilds’ case, the microtransactions are becoming more and more noticeable, with the best-looking skins locked behind paywalls. For a game that already costs $70, and up to $109 for the premium deluxe edition, many players feel insulted that even they don’t have access to the latest content like the Erik and Alma skins.
So, what happens now? This seems to be Capcom’s current strategy to monetize the Monster Hunter experience. With the game selling over 8 million copies since launch, it’s hard to blame them for capitalizing on its massive success through optional cosmetics.
At the end of the day, this might just be the most practical path forward for the franchise. Fans will have to come to terms with this new direction. And for now, we can be thankful that it's only cosmetics. Things could change drastically if Capcom ever decides to lock top-tier weapons behind a paywall.
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