Capcom’s latest release, Monster Hunter Wilds, has brought back the company’s controversial practice of microtransactions.
Shoutout to Chatacabra for y̵o̵u̵r̵ ̵e̵n̵d̵l̵e̵s̵s̵ ̵s̵u̵f̵f̵e̵r̵i̵n̵g̵ welcoming everyone to the Forbidden Lands! #MHWilds pic.twitter.com/tq33eoqCJQ
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) March 1, 2025
Players who want to edit their character’s appearance after the initial creation will need to purchase a ‘Character Edit Voucher’ three-pack for $5.99 / £5.79 on the PlayStation Store. The first edit is free, but subsequent changes require the paid vouchers.
The game’s character creator is highly detailed, and the custom hunter appears in nearly every campaign cutscene. This can lead to frustration if players later decide they want to make changes to their character’s appearance.
Complete the Monster Hunter Wilds quest on @Discord to receive The Hunt Begins: Assistance Pack, featuring a starter pack of a few helpful items for the hunts ahead. #MHWildshttps://t.co/weBvVu8jlr pic.twitter.com/bdO3wQYulH
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) March 1, 2025
Capcom has faced criticism for this pattern of microtransactions, which often includes in-game currencies and paid consumables that are unavailable during the review period.
✨ Monster Hunter Wilds collaboration quests are all LIVE in Monster Hunter Now! Jump into the game to unlock time-limited items. Whether you’re at home or on the go, the hunt never stops! #MHNow #monsterhunternow pic.twitter.com/2IuR294Y0F
— Monster Hunter Now (@MH_Now_EN) February 28, 2025
Microtransactions frustrate Monster Hunter fans
This means that reviewers don’t see the full extent of the monetization until the game is released to the public. Many fans have expressed their displeasure with this practice, feeling that charging for a basic feature like character editing is unnecessary and exploitative.
Capcom Creator Chat is back again, talking with our Capcom Creators and testing their Capcom knowledge! With #MHWilds launching today, we're celebrating with a creator who is a big Monster Hunter fan, @xxfruitcakexx! Check it out!https://t.co/4qc9MYG5TS pic.twitter.com/XAiL1DO0s1
— Capcom USA (@CapcomUSA_) March 1, 2025
The sentiment is further compounded by the fact that some performance issues in the game have gone unaddressed while monetization methods are prioritized. The debate surrounding microtransactions in gaming continues, with some arguing that purely cosmetic transactions are preferable to those that affect gameplay. However, there is still significant backlash to the idea of paying to change character appearances, especially when it involves high costs and single-use items.
Despite the controversy surrounding microtransactions, Capcom’s games, including Monster Hunter Wilds, generally receive high praise for their core gameplay and design. However, the ongoing debate over monetization remains an issue that many players hope will be addressed in future titles.
Photo by; Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash
