Have you ever called in sick on the release day of a game you’ve been eagerly waiting for just so you could dive in right away? I suspect many gamers have found themselves tempted, and if you count yourself among them, you’re not alone. In fact, you’ll find some kindred spirits in the team behind 2024’s standout creature-collecting RPG, Palworld.
The Japanese developers at Pocketpair let the world in on a little secret when they shared an internal memo on social media. It announced that Friday, February 28, was a company holiday, granting nearly everyone a day off. The reason? A peculiar surge in “mysterious reports” of employees planning to be ill on the very date that marked the launch of Capcom’s eagerly awaited ARPG, Monster Hunter Wilds. Coincidence? I think not!
The memo humorously noted, “Regarding February 28th, we have received a series of mysterious reports from many employees that they may feel unwell tomorrow, so the company has decided to institute a special holiday.”
And to calm any jitters among fans, Pocketpair reassured everyone: “Please note that updates to Palworld and Craftopia are progressing smoothly and are expected to be implemented as scheduled.”
In Japan, where Monster Hunter enjoys immense popularity, it’s no shocker that many Palworld employees might have been itching to experience Wilds. Considering how well the new game is faring, I imagine gamers everywhere were doing likewise.
Incredibly, Monster Hunter Wilds had already pulled in over a million players on Steam this morning alone. It’s beaten out Cyberpunk 2077, climbing to the seventh spot among the most-played games in Steam’s history. And we can’t forget the wave of players joining in on Xbox Series X|S and PS5. This phenomenal start follows a flurry of positive reviews, with the game’s Metacritic score hitting 90 and an impressive 89 on OpenCritic.
However, despite this explosive debut, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, at least for PC players. Currently, just 48% of the 14,140 reviews on Steam are positive, giving it a mixed standing.
Many negative reviews highlight severe optimization woes and performance troubles, even on systems that far exceed the game’s requirements. Some critics, including our own review, also point out that the game might be too easygoing and lacks challenge.
Windows Central’s Executive Editor Jez Corden remarked, “Without some balance tweaks, I’m not sure Monster Hunter Wilds will achieve the longevity of its predecessor, but new players may appreciate the gentler learning curve.”
Granted, while the PC version’s performance isn’t winning accolades and hardcore fans might be craving a bigger challenge, most players agree that Capcom has a promising framework to build upon. Remember, Monster Hunter Worlds, released in 2018, received years of substantial updates and new content. So, there’s hope for similar improvements with this 2025 release.
Even if you sacrificed some sick days for Wilds and are left somewhat dissatisfied with its initial offering, at least you got a day to yourself. Not everyone can say that.
Despite its rocky start, particularly on the PC, Monster Hunter Wilds holds promise. It could very well blossom into one of the top Xbox and PC games for those who love battling massive monsters in ARPG fashion. Normally priced at $69.99, you can snag the PC version for just $58.79 at GreenManGaming, thanks to a special deal.
