If you're a fan of Monster Hunter Wilds, you know that character customization is a huge part of the experience. From your Hunter’s build to your Palico’s design, the game allows for a high degree of personalization. However, a new update has come with a major change that may catch some players off guard — character appearance changes will no longer be entirely free. In this blog post, we'll break down everything you need to know about these upcoming changes, the microtransactions involved, and how it will affect your gameplay.
What’s Changing in Monster Hunter Wilds?
When you first start Monster Hunter Wilds, you're given the freedom to shape your Hunter and Palico’s appearance. Capcom has designed a detailed character creation system, allowing you to adjust everything from facial features to body size. This is great for those who like to fine-tune their characters down to the last detail.
However, the recent update has introduced a restriction on how often you can change your character’s appearance after the initial creation. Initially, you could alter your Hunter or Palico’s look as much as you liked, but now, changes will be limited — and some will come with a price tag.
Free Initial Character Customization
Here’s the good news: When you first create your character, Capcom still allows one free modification. This means you can fully customize your Hunter and Palico's appearance at the start of the game without paying a dime. So if you're not completely happy with the look of your character, you can make adjustments — once — for free.
- Facial structure
- Body shape
- Distinctive features like scars or tattoos
This free token ensures that you aren’t stuck with an unsatisfactory character appearance for the duration of the game, but the real twist comes after you’ve used up your one free token.
Paid Modifications After the First Change
Once you’ve used your free modification, Monster Hunter Wilds will require players to pay for any future appearance changes. These microtransactions will come in the form of modification vouchers, which can be purchased from the in-game store.
There are two types of voucher packs available:
Single Character Modification Voucher (Hunter or Palico): Priced at approximately €6 for each character. You can purchase these vouchers to make one change per pack.
Combo Pack (Hunter + Palico, 3 Modifications Each): This bundle costs about €10, allowing you to modify both your Hunter and Palico three times.
It’s important to note that these vouchers are only valid for physical changes — altering features like your face or body build after the initial free modification.
What Changes Can You Make for Free?
While the more substantial changes to your character’s appearance will require paid vouchers, there are still a few elements you can modify for free at any time. These include:
- Hair Style
- Hair Color
- Eyebrow Color
- Makeup Color
- Clothing
These free adjustments ensure that you can still change some aspects of your character's look without spending money, offering a level of flexibility without the microtransaction commitment.
Why the Community is Concerned: A Hidden Microtransaction
One of the most significant concerns among the Monster Hunter community is that these microtransactions for appearance changes were not made clear before the game's release. Players and critics alike were surprised to learn about these changes post-launch, especially since there was no mention of paid customization during the testing and review periods.
This has led to frustration within the community, as many players feel blindsided by the sudden introduction of microtransactions for something as basic as character customization. The lack of transparency has raised concerns that more features could be hidden behind paywalls in future updates.
Will More Features Be Locked Behind Paywalls?
As if the surprise appearance change fees weren’t enough, Monster Hunter Wilds has also introduced additional microtransaction packs for in-game cosmetics and gestures. While this may not be the worst thing for players who are comfortable with paying for cosmetics, it has led to speculation that Capcom might lock more features behind paywalls as the game evolves.
This trend of introducing microtransactions for cosmetic changes in popular games is becoming more common, and many players fear that it might continue with Monster Hunter Wilds.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re someone who enjoys regularly changing your character’s appearance or experimenting with different looks, you’ll need to consider how often you plan to use your free modification token. After all, once it’s gone, you’ll have to pay for every subsequent change.
For those who don’t mind sticking with their initial design, this might not be a huge issue. However, if you frequently enjoy switching things up, it’s worth taking note of the costs involved. With vouchers priced around €6 each, changing your Hunter and Palico’s appearance regularly could add up.
Conclusion: Is the Price Worth It?
Monster Hunter Wilds remains a thrilling and captivating game, especially for fans of the Monster Hunter franchise. Its rich world and intense gameplay are among the best in the action RPG genre. However, Capcom’s decision to monetize character appearance changes may leave some players feeling frustrated or disappointed. While the free modification token is a nice touch, the fact that further changes come at a cost could alter the way many players approach customization in the game.
Ultimately, the choice is yours: If you’re comfortable with the idea of paying for appearance changes, Monster Hunter Wilds offers plenty of options to make your character stand out. If not, you’ll have to make the most of your free token and be mindful of the costs associated with any future changes.
Whether or not Capcom will reverse this decision or continue down the path of microtransactions remains to be seen. For now, all we can do is hope they listen to community feedback and perhaps offer a little more flexibility when it comes to character customization.
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