"Monster Hunter Wilds Player Count Drops Sharply, MH World Gains Ground"

Monster Hunter Wilds, once riding high as Capcom’s fastest-selling title of the year, has seen a sharp decline in its player base. What was once a thriving community of over one million players at launch has now dropped to just around 40,000 concurrent players on Steam. This drop brings MH Wilds dangerously close to its predecessor, Monster Hunter World, which continues to maintain a steady presence even years after release.

From Over 1 Million to Just 40k

When Monster Hunter Wilds launched, it broke records and became the fastest-selling entry in the franchise. However, three months post-release, the excitement seems to have waned. As noted by Monster Hunter content creator Zenny, the game's concurrent player numbers began dropping significantly starting in May. According to data from SteamDB, MH Wilds currently holds a 24-hour peak of 41,101 players—nearly matching MH World’s 26,479 concurrent players.

Comparatively, during its third month on Steam, Monster Hunter World maintained over 100,000 concurrent players—a stark contrast to MH Wilds’ current 40,000. Many fans speculate that the lack of substantial endgame content is contributing to the downturn. While Title Update 1 introduced some new features, it may not be enough to keep players engaged long-term. With Title Update 2 scheduled for release this summer, hopes are high that new monsters, events, and gameplay enhancements will help reinvigorate the player base.

MH Wilds x Street Fighter Collaboration Possibly on the Horizon

Amid the declining numbers, there’s a glimmer of hope for Monster Hunter Wilds in the form of a potential collaboration with another iconic Capcom franchise—Street Fighter. On May 19, the official Monster Hunter Twitter (X) account posted an image featuring a paw print styled similarly to the visuals of Street Fighter 6, sparking widespread speculation among fans.

While no official announcement has been made, such a crossover wouldn’t be unprecedented. The Monster Hunter series previously collaborated with Street Fighter in MH World, offering themed armor sets for Ryu and Sakura, special combat gestures like Hadoken and Shoryuken, and even a Chun-Li-inspired Handler costume. A similar collab in MH Wilds could bring fresh content and attract both Monster Hunter and Street Fighter fans alike.

This would mark the first major collaboration for Monster Hunter Wilds, continuing a tradition seen across the series—from Devil May Cry and Sonic in MH4, to Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem in MH Gen U, and Assassin’s Creed and Megaman in MH World. Fans are eager to see how Capcom might blend the worlds of Monster Hunter and Street Fighter in this new entry.

Despite the dip in player count, there’s still optimism surrounding Monster Hunter Wilds. With future updates and possible collaborations on the way, many believe the game can regain momentum and reclaim its spot as one of the most-played titles on Steam. Monster Hunter Wilds is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and in-game developments throughout the year.