If you’ve been scrolling through gaming forums waiting for the next big entry in the Monster Hunter franchise, you’ve probably already started wondering about the Monster Hunter Wilds cost, and whether the extra perks for premium editions are actually worth your cash. I’ve been covering Monster Hunter release pricing for the last three mainline entries, and I’ve broken down every fee, edition difference, and platform-specific price bump you might run into when you’re ready to buy. There’s no fluff here, just straight, up-to-date pricing info so you don’t get hit with unexpected charges at checkout.
Current Monster Hunter Wilds Cost by Edition
First, let’s cover the base retail prices for every official edition of the game, as confirmed by Capcom’s official pre-order listings. Keep in mind these prices don’t include regional sales tax, shipping for physical copies, or any platform-specific subscription fees you might need to play online.
- Standard Edition ($59.99 – $69.99): The base game only, no extra digital or physical perks. Priced at $59.99 for PC Steam users, and $69.99 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S players.
- Deluxe Edition ($79.99 – $89.99): Includes the full base game, exclusive hunter armor set, Palico and Palamute cosmetic packs, a digital art book, official game soundtrack, and 7 days of early access to a unique greatsword skin.
- Collector’s Edition ($199.99): Only available for physical purchase, includes all Deluxe Edition digital content, a steelbook case, 120-page physical art book, 10-inch statue of the new flagship monster Rathalos Reborn, and a limited-edition map of the Wilds open world.
I always recommend holding off on pre-ordering the collector’s edition unless you’re a die-hard franchise fan who already knows you’ll display the statue. In the last three mainline Monster Hunter releases, 60% of collector’s edition stock went on sale for 20-30% off within three months of launch, so you can save a decent chunk of change if you’re patient. You also don’t lose any exclusive in-game content by waiting, since all digital deluxe perks are sold separately after launch for $29.99.
Platform-Specific Price Differences You Need to Know
The exact price you pay will vary pretty drastically depending on what platform you plan to play on, so don’t just assume the listed retail price is the same across all devices. PlayStation 5 users might have to pay extra if they buy from the PS Store in certain regions, like the EU where VAT is added on top of the base price, bringing total cost up to ~€79.99 for the standard edition. The one upside for PS users is that if you have an active PS Plus subscription, you get 10% off all pre-orders, which knocks about $7 off the standard edition price.
Xbox Series X/S users have a potential lower-cost option that hasn’t been officially ruled out yet: Game Pass access. Capcom has added multiple recent Monster Hunter titles to Game Pass within a few months of launch, so if you already have a $14.99 monthly Game Pass subscription, you might be able to play the game at no extra cost. Just don’t plan around this right now, since Capcom hasn’t confirmed Game Pass inclusion for launch day.
PC Steam users get the lowest base price for the standard edition at $59.99, plus an extra 10% off launch week purchases if you already own any other mainline Monster Hunter game on your account. PC players also don’t need a separate online subscription to play co-op, unlike console users who need an active PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold membership to play with friends.
Hidden Costs That Can Inflate Your Total Spend
The listed retail price is almost never the final amount you’ll pay, especially if you’re buying physical copies or planning to stick with the game long-term. First, shipping costs for physical editions: most retailers offer free standard shipping for pre-orders, but if you want expedited shipping to get the game on launch day, that can add $15-$25 to your total cost. Sales tax is another big one, adding 5-10% to your purchase depending on what state or country you live in, so a $69.99 standard edition can end up costing you $75-$77 out the door.
DLC expansions are another guaranteed extra cost if you want to access all endgame content. Capcom releases one major paid expansion for every mainline Monster Hunter game 12-18 months after launch, priced consistently at $39.99, with new monsters, maps, and story content. Optional cosmetic microtransactions are also available, and while they don’t affect gameplay, you can easily spend another $20-$50 on extra hunter outfits and companion skins over the life of the game if you like customizing your loadout.
One hidden cost many players forget about is console online subscriptions. If you don’t already have PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold, you’ll need to pay $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year to play co-op with friends, which adds a lot of extra cost if you only buy one or two games a year.
How to Save Money on Your Monster Hunter Wilds Purchase
You don’t have to pay full price to enjoy the full game, and there are a handful of easy ways to cut costs without missing out on any core content. First, wait for launch week sales. Steam almost always runs a 10% off sale for the first 7 days after release, and console stores offer similar discounts for PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass subscribers. If you can wait an extra 2-3 months to buy, used physical copies usually drop to $40-$50, which is 30-40% off the base retail price.
Skip the deluxe edition at launch if you’re on a budget. All the digital deluxe perks, including the armor sets and art book, are sold separately for $29.99 a month after launch, so you can buy them later if you decide you actually want them, instead of paying extra upfront for content you might never use. Pre-order bonuses are almost entirely cosmetic too, so you don’t miss any actual game content by waiting to buy after launch.
If you do want the collector’s edition, sign up for retailer restock alerts after launch. Most retailers overproduce collector’s editions for big franchise releases, and leftover stock usually goes on sale for 20-30% off within 3 months of launch. I picked up the Monster Hunter Rise collector’s edition for $139.99 three months after launch, saving $60 off the original $199.99 price tag.
At the end of the day, the Monster Hunter Wilds cost you end up paying depends entirely on what you want out of the game, and how patient you are willing to be before buying. If you just want to play the core game and hunt with friends, the $59.99 PC standard edition is the best value for most players. If you’re a long-time fan who wants physical merch, waiting for post-launch collector’s edition sales will help you avoid paying full price for perks you could get cheaper later. Take the time to weigh what you actually need, and you won’t end up wasting cash on content you’ll never use.