Widely considered to have set a new standard for the Monster Hunter series, 'Monster Hunter: World' continues to enjoy immense popularity even eight years after its release.

Capcom announced today (the 8th) via its official website that the global cumulative sales of 'Monster Hunter: World' have surpassed 30 million units. Considering the company announced the game had reached 25 million units in 2024, this means it has sold an additional 5 million copies in just two years. Even accounting for discount promotions across various platforms, the fact that an eight-year-old title has added sales figures equivalent to those of a typical AAA new release serves as proof that 'Monster Hunter: World' remains beloved by many gamers.

This continued success is particularly noteworthy as it comes despite the presence of its successors, 'MONSTER HUNTER RISE' (Sunbreak) and the latest entry, 'Monster Hunter Wilds.' While sales for 'MONSTER HUNTER RISE,' released on platforms like the Nintendo Switch in 2021, have reached 17.1 million units, and 'Monster Hunter Wilds,' released in 2025, has hit 11 million, both have effectively entered a plateau. In contrast, 'Monster Hunter: World' continues to boast strong, sustained popularity.

Meanwhile, with the recent reveal of the first major expansion, 'Ascendance,' for 'Monster Hunter Wilds' at the Summer Game Fest, sales for the title are expected to rebound soon. Although the game faced criticism for unstable optimization, a lack of monsters, and the fact that the only Elder Dragon players had been clamoring for was Gogmazios added via a title update, most of the optimization issues—the biggest barrier to entry—have been resolved through several subsequent patches.

The remaining challenge is the inclusion of a wider variety of Elder Dragons. However, with recent trailers teasing the arrival of Kushala Daora and Lao-Shan Lung, expectations are high that more will follow. All eyes are now on whether this expansion can successfully draw back players who had left Wilds to return to World.