Capcom Tackles Monster Hunter Wilds PC Optimization

As the release date of February 28 for Monster Hunter Wilds approaches, developer Capcom has announced efforts to lower the recommended GPU requirements for the game. This news was confirmed by the official German Monster Hunter X/Twitter account, which also mentioned that Capcom is considering the release of a standalone PC benchmarking tool to help players assess their system's compatibility.

Currently, Capcom suggests a minimum GPU of an Nvidia GTX 1660 Super or an AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT to achieve 30 FPS at 1080p. This setup requires an internal resolution of 720p and utilizes upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR at the lowest graphics settings.

For those aiming for a smoother experience, the recommended settings for Monster Hunter Wilds target 1080p at 60 FPS, with upscaling and Frame Generation technologies enabled. Suitable GPUs for this include the RTX 2070 Super, RTX 4060, or AMD RX 6700 XT. Notably, only the RTX 4060 supports Nvidia Frame Generation, while the RTX 2070 Super and RX 6700 XT rely on FSR 3, which experienced ghosting artifacts during the previous beta test of Monster Hunter Wilds.

Digital Foundry advises that for optimal performance with Frame Generation, a baseline of 40 FPS is recommended for third-person games. Running the game at under 60 FPS with upscaling can lead to increased latency, potentially affecting the game's responsiveness and tactile feel.

During the open beta test, players with lower-end hardware, including those with mid-range GPUs like the RTX 3060, faced challenges. A notable issue was a low-LOD bug that prevented the game from loading fully detailed textures for characters and monsters.

Monster Hunter Wilds is developed using the RE Engine, which was first introduced with Resident Evil 7 in 2017. This engine has been successfully used in titles such as Devil May Cry 5, Monster Hunter Rise, and Street Fighter 6, delivering smooth performance across various platforms. However, larger open-world games like Dragon’s Dogma 2, which also use the RE Engine, have encountered performance issues on both consoles and PC. This raises concerns about the potential performance of Monster Hunter Wilds.

With an early February open beta and a late February launch on the horizon, Capcom's initiative to reduce GPU requirements could be crucial for the game's success on PC.