Monster Hunter Wilds has set a remarkable benchmark with over 1.3 million concurrent players on Steam this past weekend, severely impacting indie game launches set on the same date. The developers of indie games such as Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, created by veteran artist Takaya Imamura of Nintendo fame, have reported distressing sales figures, with one studio revealing they couldn’t sell a single copy of their game during this peak.

Monster Hunter Wilds

The game experienced a steep rise in player counts, peaking at nearly a million within just two hours. Imamura, known for his artistry on titles like Star Fox 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, saw his new venture receive minimal attention, accumulating only a handful of reviews upon its release.

An indie developer expressed concerns via Twitter, noting, “Not a single game has been sold on Steam since Monster Hunter was released, lol.” This showcases the colossal impact popular games have on smaller titles. However, it’s not all doom and gloom; some titles, like the co-op horror game REPO, successfully navigated this crowded launch period.

Overall, Monster Hunter Wilds not only dominated player engagement but has also highlighted the stark challenges indie games face in a landscape increasingly dominated by major franchises.