Monster Hunter Wilds Tackles FOMO and Reviews with New Update

The journey of Monster Hunter Wilds since its February 2025 release has been a tumultuous one, marked by critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase, but also by a severe and persistent backlash over its PC performance and endgame content. In a recent move aimed at winning back the community, Capcom has released a new update (Ver. 1.021) that not only adds a new layer of endgame difficulty but also directly addresses the widespread criticism of the game’s “fear of missing out” (FOMO) mechanics. This update is a calculated step by the developer to improve the game’s reputation and, in a broader sense, to slay the most dangerous monster of all: player frustration.

The update, which went live in mid-August, is a comprehensive package of new content and system changes. The most significant addition is the introduction of Tempered Monsters (9★), a new tier of high-difficulty quests that unlock at Hunter Rank 100. For veteran players, this provides a much-needed challenge and a compelling reason to return to the hunt. The update also adds a new appraisal item, the Glowing Stone, which yields a randomly generated Talisman with a chance for powerful and unique skills, adding a “gacha” element to the endgame grind. The upgrade limit for high-rarity armor has also been increased, giving players more room to optimize their builds.

Slaying the FOMO Monster

One of the most significant changes in this update is the direct assault on the game’s controversial FOMO mechanics. Unlike some past entries in the series, where event quests would appear and disappear on a timed basis, Capcom has made a conscious effort to make event quests, particularly those for Arch-tempered monsters, a permanent fixture in Monster Hunter Wilds. This decision comes after a vocal segment of the community expressed frustration with the idea of time-limited content, which they felt forced them to play at a specific time or risk missing out on valuable rewards. By making these quests permanent, Capcom is allowing players to progress at their own pace, a move that is likely to be a major point in their favor as they seek to rebuild trust with the player base.

The community has largely praised this change, with many pointing out that Monster Hunter Rise had a similar system of permanent event quests that was well-received. The removal of this high-pressure, time-sensitive system is a clear signal that Capcom is listening to feedback and is willing to adapt its live-service strategy to better suit the desires of its audience. This is a crucial step in moving the game’s Steam review score from “Mostly Negative” to a more favorable rating.

The Battle for PC Performance Continues

While the new update is a win for content and anti-FOMO, it is not a cure-all for the game’s biggest problem: its poor PC performance. The update, as reported by many players, has introduced a new wave of crashes and stutters, and the core issues of CPU and GPU optimization remain unaddressed. Capcom has acknowledged this, with a major performance patch still slated for Winter 2025. This means that for the time being, players will have to continue to endure a sub-optimal experience, even as they enjoy the new content. The game’s Steam review history has been a rollercoaster of “Mixed,” “Mostly Negative,” and even “Overwhelmingly Negative” scores, with each patch introducing a mix of fixes and new bugs. The community-made REFramework mod continues to be a more reliable solution for many players than Capcom’s official patches, a fact that speaks volumes about the state of the game on PC.

This update, then, is a calculated gamble. Capcom is hoping that by giving players a compelling reason to play—new monsters to hunt, a satisfying endgame grind, and the elimination of FOMO—they can convince them to stick with the game despite its technical flaws. It’s a hunt for player goodwill, and the success of the hunt will ultimately be determined by whether the new content is good enough to outweigh the ongoing performance issues. For now, the hunt is on, and the ultimate prize is not a monster’s hide, but a green-colored review score on Steam.

Key Update Details:

• New Monsters: Tempered versions of Rey Dau and Nu Udra now appear in the Wounded Hollow.
• New End Game: The introduction of 9★ quests and the “Glowing Stone” appraisal item for Talismans.
• Anti-FOMO: Event quests, including those for Arch-tempered monsters, are now permanent additions.
• PC Performance: The update has introduced new crashes for some players, and a major performance overhaul is not expected until Winter 2025.

As the community continues to hunt, they will be watching to see if this update can finally turn the tide and whether Capcom can deliver on its promise to fix the game’s performance issues, ensuring that the legendary series remains a king of its genre.