Capcom’s latest installment, Monster Hunter Wilds, has entered the spotlight with high expectations, yet early benchmarks are raising concerns about its performance, particularly for players on lower-end systems. Scheduled for release on February 27, 2024, with two open beta weekends preceding launch, the game aims to expand the franchise's reach with lower system requirements.
The game’s benchmark tool, briefly tested on the Steam Deck, highlights significant challenges. Players found themselves disappointed as the results revealed anything but solid performance. Testing revealed, at the lowest graphic settings, the average frame rate struggled to reach playable levels. During the demanding benchmark run, results showed averages of just 21 FPS, tumbling as low as 12 FPS at times. Clearly, this is far from being playable, leading to concern over the viability of the game on less powerful setups.
"Monster Hunter Wilds releases February 27, and two open betas will be running across the next two weekends," reported by PC Gamer. This quote signifies how eager players are to experience the newest entry, but the technical hurdles might hinder their excitement.
While Capcom has provided players with adjusted minimum system requirements to fully experience Monster Hunter Wilds, it's clear from the benchmarks conducted on both gaming systems and the Steam Deck, the drop from 140GB to 75GB of required SSD space doesn't tell the entire story. The minimum Nvidia GPU requirement has shifted from the GTX 1660 Super to the standard GTX 1660, and users can opt for the Intel Core i5-10400 instead of the i5-10600. Exciting changes, but are they enough to guarantee smooth gameplay?
One major observation from the benchmark was the noted reliance on upscaling and frame generation technologies. Although Monster Hunter Wilds will support various graphics settings, these technologies face some limitations. "Relying on [frame generation] to artificially push a PC-melter past 30fps is daft because it will still tangibly feel, from the lack of input responsiveness, like it’s running at 20fps or 15fps,” highlighted the report. These findings reflect the common struggle players face when optimizing performance on machines struggling with demanding titles.
Despite the underwhelming results, benchmarks on higher-end setups prove promising. Systems outfitted with RTX 4060 graphics cards averaged around 62 FPS at 1080p, soaring to 98 FPS with frame generation enabled. This suggests, for players with capable hardware, Monster Hunter Wilds can yield impressive visual fidelity and performance.
Anticipation for the game remains high as it progresses through the beta stages, leaving many fans hopeful for optimizations and adjustments before its full rollout. The benchmarks raise valid concerns over accessibility for players who may not have high-end rigs.
Overall, Monster Hunter Wilds faces the looming task of balancing performance expectations against the high demands of modern gaming. The recent benchmarks serve as both caution and excitement, informing players about what they might expect.
Gamers are left wondering if these early impressions are indicative of the final product or merely rough edges waiting to be smoothed out. Regardless of the challenges presented, the upcoming weekends will provide countless players the opportunity to get hands-on with the game and experience it themselves.
Capcom's determination to make Monster Hunter Wilds as accessible as possible remains intrinsic to its appeal, yet with performance dilemma hanging over its release, players are on the edge of their seats.