Monster Hunter Wilds looked like a guaranteed hit at launch, drawing huge attention on release day. But surprisingly, less than a year later, the game’s value in some regions has dropped off a cliff—especially in Japan, where buyers are now seeing prices that would normally be reserved for bargain-bin leftovers.
In fact, the Monster Hunter Wilds price has fallen so dramatically in Japan that some used game shops are reportedly valuing it at just 18 JPY, which works out to around 11 cents. Other listings have shown used copies selling for roughly $3 or less. For a modern Capcom release on PS5, that kind of depreciation is almost unheard of, and it highlights just how sharply interest has cooled.
So what happened? While PC performance problems have been a major talking point globally—stuttering and overall optimization complaints made many players frustrated—the situation in Japan appears to be about more than frame rates. Even on consoles, the game hasn’t managed to keep players engaged long-term, and retailers are reacting to weak demand in the most blunt way possible: they can’t move copies.
One explanation that’s been floated publicly is that the high cost of Sony’s console has made it harder for games like Monster Hunter Wilds to sustain momentum in Japan. That’s important context, because the series has historically performed extremely well there—especially when it’s available on more accessible hardware.
That’s where rumors of a Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 version come in. A port to Nintendo’s next system could expand the potential audience in Japan, particularly since more affordable, region-specific hardware options have helped handheld gaming thrive. Monster Hunter Rise proved how powerful that combination can be, becoming a massive success in Capcom’s home market thanks in part to being built around the Switch experience.
The sharp discounts aren’t limited to Japan, either. Players have reported low prices in other regions, including an example of a sealed copy spotted in Australia for 19 AUD (around $13 USD). Meanwhile, pricing has held up better in the United States—digital discounts on PC have been more modest, while physical console copies can be found cheaper during retail promotions.
Capcom has tried to address at least part of the criticism. A major update in December improved PC performance, and that briefly boosted player activity. But the bounce didn’t last, and recent user reviews remain mixed. Beyond technical issues, longtime fans have also been divided over design changes. Some players dislike the shift toward a more open-world structure, while others argue that combat feels too simplified and hunts lack the challenge the series is known for.
That last point may be the biggest issue of all. Even if Monster Hunter Wilds does arrive on Switch 2 and reaches more players, a new platform alone won’t fix what some fans see as core gameplay problems. Without meaningful tweaks to difficulty, combat depth, and overall progression, a port may improve sales but not necessarily the game’s long-term reputation.
For now, one thing is clear: Monster Hunter Wilds has become one of the most surprising price-drop stories in recent gaming memory, with Japan offering the most dramatic example of how quickly a high-profile release can lose momentum.
