Over 1.3 million concurrent players contributed to beating Dota 2's peak record
In brief: Monster Hunter, a franchise that once struggled to spread beyond its core Japanese audience on the PSP, is now Capcom's most successful IP. Latest release Monster Hunter Wilds has broken records on Steam and for the company as a whole within 24 hours of launch. Its peak player count almost quadruples the franchise's previous mainline entry.
Critics praise Monster Hunter Wilds the most refined entry yet, packed with content and smart streamlining. New monsters, weapon tweaks, and seamless multiplayer shine, though some note uneven story and pacing.
In context: Capcom's latest earnings show that the software markets for PCs and consoles are a close race, with PCs edging out consoles by 14 points. During its 2023 fiscal year, 54 percent of Capcom's game sales went to PCs, while consoles accounted for 40 percent. The remainder is in mobile gaming, which ironically has doubled the gaming population of the other two markets combined.
Highly anticipated: Developer showcases over the last few weeks have filled release calendars for 2024 and 2025 with reissues of numerous classic games, some of which are available now. The growing list includes titles that have never been available on PC, haven't been available for purchase in around two decades, or have never been playable in English.