Capcom wants Monster Hunter Wilds to become its best-selling game ever, but with Monster Hunter: World still sitting nearly 19 million copies ahead, the hunt for the top spot is going to be a brutal one.

Despite its record-breaking launch in February 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds has struggled to maintain that momentum. The latest entry in Capcom's long-running hunting series faced criticism over performance and optimization problems, along with several design decisions that divided the community. By the end of 2025, its sales momentum had slowed enough for older Monster Hunter games to outsell it in some periods.

Capcom, however, isn't giving up on Wilds. During its latest investor Q&A, the company revealed that it still has ambitious plans for the game and ultimately wants its lifetime sales to surpass those of Monster Hunter: World.

According to Capcom, sales have already started showing signs of improvement following a series of performance-focused updates released in early 2026. The company also said it has seen a positive response to the announcement of the upcoming Ascendance expansion, as well as the game's recent price reduction.

"We plan to continue improving the game’s technical performance as we aim to drive its total unit sales beyond those of Monster Hunter: World over the medium to long term," Capcom told investors.

That's an enormous target. Monster Hunter: World has become Capcom's best-selling game of all time, with more than 30 million units sold since its 2018 release. The game is still moving impressive numbers despite being more than eight years old, selling over 780,000 copies during the most recent quarter.

Wilds has a significant head start thanks to its blockbuster launch, but it still has a massive gap to close. As of March 31, 2026, the game had sold 11.4 million copies. That means it remains roughly 19 million sales behind World, and its recent sales pace has slowed considerably compared to its older sibling.

The situation is particularly notable because World continues to perform strongly even years after launch. It remains one of the most popular entry points into the franchise and continues to attract new players, making it difficult for Wilds to simply rely on time to close the gap.

Still, Capcom has several opportunities to give Wilds a second wind.

The upcoming Ascendance expansion could be the biggest of them all. Major expansions have historically played an important role in extending the lifespan of Monster Hunter games. World received Iceborne, while Monster Hunter Rise was followed by Sunbreak, and both expansions helped reinforce the long-term reputation and sales of their respective games.

If Ascendance can have a similar impact, it could encourage existing players to return while bringing new hunters into Wilds. Capcom is also continuing to improve the game's technical performance, potentially addressing one of the biggest complaints that has followed the title since launch.

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 version could provide another major boost. A Switch 2 release would give Wilds access to a new audience of Nintendo players who may not have experienced the game on other platforms.

Those factors could help Capcom keep Wilds in the spotlight for years to come. But even with stronger performance, a major expansion, a price cut, and a Switch 2 release, surpassing Monster Hunter: World remains a daunting challenge.

For now, World remains firmly on top. Capcom clearly believes Wilds still has enough potential to eventually close the enormous gap, but whether it can turn that confidence into another 19 million sales will depend heavily on how well the game's upcoming content and continued updates are received.