11 months after Capcom released Monster Hunter Wilds to the world, user reviews are starting to look more positive. At the time of writing, the game now holds ‘Mixed’ reviews on Steam, which doesn’t sound amazing, but is actually a U-turn compared to what we’ve seen since launch. It’s obvious this turnaround can be attributed to a recent PC performance patch.

PC performance was addressed in a Steam patch on January 27/28 (depending on where you are in the world), and the reception was immediately positive. Along with addressing the bizarre DLC bug that recently made waves online, the patch provided sweeping CPU and GPU optimization with new graphics settings, presets, and VRAM usage improvements.

Monster Hunter Wilds is finally getting positive reviews

Quickly browse through the recent Steam reviews, and you’ll notice that most positive reviews reference the performance fixes in one way or another. One user says they hope Capcom “keep up the updates for optimization” – and that’s exactly what the company is doing.

The developers have already committed to another patch in February, version 1.041, which brings further CPU and GPU optimizations and adds level-of-detail (LOD) quality levels to reduce GPU load. The team is also “re-examining memory-related processes to identify further potential improvements”. So, while the bulk of optimizations may be over, it’s positive to see further work to ensure smooth performance across a wider range of PC hardware.

Additionally, Steam Deck owners have gleefully reported that the game is now playable on the Valve handheld, targeting between 45 and 60 FPS. Back when the game launched, we tested it on our office Steam Deck, concluding that you shouldn’t bother – just use GeForce Now instead. It’s nice to see this is no longer a necessity. Officially, Valve still lists Monster Hunter Wilds as “Unsupported” on the Steam Deck, but that may change soon if Capcom keeps on optimizing.

About the Author

Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.