Monster Hunter Wilds sold more than eight million copies in three days, then ran into a year of PC performance complaints. On 4 August 2026 Capcom cut the standard price permanently to £34.99, and a free demo now carries your progress into the full game. That changes the buying decision completely.
A hunting ground that moves
Wilds swaps separate zones for open biomes whose weather cycles through Fallow, Inclemency and Plenty, each changing which monsters roam and what you can gather. Predators hunt prey, herds defend themselves, and the world keeps its state while you are away. It is the most alive the series has felt.
All fourteen weapon types return. The Seikret mount carries a second weapon and guides you to your target, and Focus Mode lets you open wounds on a monster, then break them with a weapon-specific strike. Hunts become readable, which is a gift to newcomers.
Better with friends, fine alone
Up to four players can hunt together online with full cross-play between PC, PS5 and Xbox, a first for the series. Solo players can call AI Support Hunters or send an SOS flare. Free title updates have added monsters such as the elder dragon Gogmazios and harder endgame challenges.
Where it stumbles
Series veterans found the campaign easy, and the post-credits loop took a while to find its footing. The PC version is the real problem: Steam user reviews sit at Mixed after a long run of performance complaints, and Capcom has shipped a string of stability patches. It uses Denuvo. There is no cross-save, so progress and add-ons stay on one platform.
Master Rank, the traditional hardest tier, will arrive only in Ascendance, a paid expansion due in 2027 with no price yet.
Who should buy it
Console players, and PC players whose hardware comfortably clears the recommended specification, should start with the free Prologue demo. At £34.99 this is now one of the best-value big games on this board.
Plays well
- Living ecosystems and weather that change every hunt
- The most welcoming Monster Hunter yet
- Four-player co-op with full cross-play
- Free demo that carries progress into the full game
Watch for
- PC performance still divides players
- About 200 paid cosmetic add-ons
- No cross-save between platforms
- Master Rank locked to a 2027 paid expansion
Screenshots and key art: Capcom, from the official Steam store page. Shown for review.
The checkout: buying Monster Hunter Wilds in the UK
Since 4 August 2026 the standard edition is £34.99 on Steam, the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store, down from £64.99 at launch. A Switch 2 version is listed at £34.99 for 4 December 2026. The Gold Edition bundles the game with the Cosmetic DLC Collection and a few premium extras: £69.99 on Steam, £64.99 on PlayStation and Xbox.
Try before you buy: the free Prologue demo on Steam and the PlayStation Store carries your progress into the full game. On PC, that doubles as the best performance test you will get.
| Store | Platform | Edition | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | PC | Standard | £34.99 | |
| Steam | PC | Gold Edition | £69.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | PS5 | Standard | £34.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | PS5 | Gold Edition | £64.99 | |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Xbox Series X|S | Standard (Xbox Series X|S) | £34.99 | |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Xbox Series X|S | Gold Edition | £64.99 | |
| Nintendo eShop | Switch 2 | Switch 2 (out 4 Dec 2026) | £34.99 | Pre-release listing |
Extras and what they add
| Extra | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic DLC Collection | Layered armour, weapons, outfits and festival packs in one bundle (PlayStation and Xbox). | £49.99 |
| Extras Cosmetic DLC Pack | A smaller cosmetic bundle (PlayStation). | £24.99 |
| Single cosmetic items (Steam) | Pendants from £1.29, hairstyles and gestures £1.69, layered armour sets £6.99. | £1.29 |
| Ascendance expansion | Master Rank, a new region and monsters. Due 2027; price not announced. | TBA |
In-game spending
The game sells fixed cosmetic items through the platform stores: layered armour and weapons, outfits, pendants, stickers, gestures, poses and music. There is no paid currency and no paid randomised item; PEGI lists in-game purchases without a random-items note, and Capcom has said paid add-ons are cosmetic only.
Paid appearance-edit vouchers (£5.99 for three on Steam) stop selling on 3 December 2026, and changing your look becomes free when Ascendance launches.
Subscriptions
Not in Game Pass or the PS Plus catalogues. Online play on PS5 needs PS Plus, and on Xbox a Game Pass tier that includes online play.
Paying at each store
| Method | Steam | PS Store | Xbox Store | Nintendo eShop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| American Express | No | Yes | Some | No |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | No | Yes | No | No |
| Google Pay | No | No | No | No |
| paysafecard | Yes | Yes | Some | No |
| Klarna / pay later | Yes | No | Some | No |
| Phone bill | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bank transfer | Yes | No | No | No |
| Store gift card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you change your mind
| Store | Game refund rule | Money goes back to |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | 14 days, under 2 hours played | Card or PayPal, or Steam Wallet (your choice) |
| PlayStation Store | 14 days, if not downloaded | Original method where possible, else wallet |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Usually 14 days, little play | Original method; balance-paid back to balance |
| Nintendo eShop | No refunds once bought | Faulty or statutory cases: same method |
Questions about Monster Hunter Wilds
Did Monster Hunter Wilds get cheaper?
Yes. Capcom cut the standard price permanently to £34.99 on 4 August 2026. At launch it was £64.99 on the PlayStation Store.
Is there a demo?
Yes, the free Prologue demo on Steam and PS5. Progress carries over to the full game.
Does Monster Hunter Wilds sell random items?
No. Paid add-ons are fixed cosmetic items with listed contents. There is no paid currency.
Can I move my save between PC and PlayStation?
No. Capcom does not support cross-save or cross-buy for Wilds, though cross-play works.
Sources
Every price, date and policy above was checked against these pages on 25 September 2026.