An unfortunate screenshot can ruin a game’s reputation, because “people are very sensitive to these things” and “the stakes are high.” Mat Piscatella, CEO of analytics firm Circana, uses Monster Hunter Wilds as a case study to explain how one image can trigger a chain reaction in today’s game industry.
If you’re a Monster Hunter fan or follow gaming news, you’ve probably heard about Monster Hunter Wilds’ spectacular fall on Steam. At the time of writing, Capcom’s game has only 16% positive recent reviews (based on over 11,200 user ratings), and there’s little hope for redemption. That’s especially odd considering the monster-hunting title sold over 10 million copies in its first month—but one leading analyst says this highlights a new, increasingly common phenomenon in gaming.
Let’s recap: Monster Hunter Wilds launched on February 28, 2025, with a fantastic debut, racking up 10 million units sold. However, a host of optimization issues, and Capcom’s sluggish response to fixing them, drove the community to vent their frustrations on social media and review bomb the game on platforms like Steam.
Mat Piscatella, CEO of Circana, says Monster Hunter Wilds proves players now consider screenshots and gameplay clips when deciding whether to try a game. As he told GamesRadar+, the power of today’s free-to-play experiences only makes this effect stronger.
Monster Hunter Wilds: “A Very Interesting Case”
Piscatella describes Monster Hunter Wilds as “a very interesting case”, and argues that nowadays, players criticize broken games not just to warn others or message developers, but because they have so many other options for spending their time and money. “It’s the substitution effect, right? You can pay X dollars for the new game, or keep playing what you already have—something you might’ve been playing for 7 or even 10 years. That’s the call people are making now.”
What’s unusual about Monster Hunter Wilds is that the fanbase was “so enthusiastic, so committed, so loyal, and right there on launch day.” The Capcom title had optimization bugs at release, yet still became a hit. “Some of the issues pointed out only surfaced later, after everyone had already bought it.”
Piscatella believes “communication channels are vast now.” A big-name streamer or YouTuber can post a single screenshot that totally changes a game’s reputation. If these images or clips—especially when they go viral—highlight problems, potential buyers reconsider, “because people are sensitive to these things, because they hear it.” This only strengthens the pull of free games.
The Power of Free-to-Play
To make matters worse, Capcom was slow to fix Monster Hunter Wilds’ performance issues, so free-to-play games—which constantly get new content and features—look more appealing than ever. “With the entry price what it is, and free alternatives, yes, there’s a lot at stake,” Piscatella notes.
Importantly, Piscatella isn’t blaming players or screenshots for Monster Hunter Wilds’ current low ratings. But the flood of images and social media criticism has led many to go back to free-to-play games. Add in high game prices and the popularity of Fortnite and Roblox, and you have a real threat to the industry.
Piscatella even told GamesRadar+ that “in every presentation I do, at some point I mention that ‘the biggest competitor for any new game or service is Fortnite.’ Compared to Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, etc., nothing else matters.” And he’s not wrong: these as-a-service games soak up nearly half of all gaming hours on PS5 and Xbox Series. When players refuse to spend money on buggy titles, it’s no surprise they stick with free-to-play. For now, the best we can do is keep voicing complaints and hope publishers listen to their fans. Maybe if Monster Hunter Wilds’ “weak” sales reach Capcom, they’ll finally take action.
Source: GRY-Online
