Monster Hunter Wilds Backlash Highlights How Death Threats Against Devs Are Becoming a Major Issue in Japan

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Recently, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds has been under fire from Japanese-speaking fans, a situation that has garnered attention not only from Japan’s gaming media but also from The Sankei Shimbun, a prominent mainstream newspaper. However, it seems that Monster Hunter Wilds is merely the visible part of a larger issue. Harassment, particularly directed at individual game developers and company staff, has become a growing concern within the Japanese gaming industry. In response, several major companies have established policies aimed at curbing customer harassment over the past few years.

According to an article on Sankei, Hideki Yasuda – a seasoned analyst in the gaming industry at Toyo Securities – voiced his thoughts on the subject. He pointed out that although there have always been disgruntled players leaving harsh remarks, companies have shifted their advertising strategies towards highlighting creators themselves, making them potential targets of abuse. It’s worth mentioning that the prevalence of social media today and the mistaken idea that online anonymity allows for unfiltered speech may contribute to this increase in aggressive comments.

game companies are now emphasizing the potential legal repercussions when someone bullies another person online. For instance, Capcom recently declared their stance on such behavior in a statement titled “Our company’s measures against customer harassment (including slander, defamation etc.)”. This policy outlines how they handle threats from customers, as they have observed instances of online aggression and personal attacks directed towards their staff members. These attacks sometimes targeted specific employees. The declaration was posted on Capcom’s Japanese website.

Capcom highlighted that such behaviors could jeopardize “a secure work environment for all employees, as well as their emotional and physical wellbeing, potentially leading to inconvenience and problems for other customers too.” In their policy, Capcom made it clear they reserve the right to deny assistance or service to customers whose actions go beyond what is considered acceptable in society. They may even take stronger steps, such as legal and criminal actions, against those who act maliciously.

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Currently, when this response is being composed, Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam is receiving a mixed review, with many recent reviews being strongly negative. This is primarily because of problems with the game’s performance, particularly on PC platforms. Reviewers across various languages have reported issues such as deteriorating performance, startup crashes, and difficulties running what should be a high-performance game.

As for the game itself, dedicated series enthusiasts have been vocal in their criticisms. They find the game’s difficulty easier compared to previous installments, notice changes in mechanics, and lament the current lack of endgame content.

Although many constructive critiques of Monster Hunter Worlds in Japanese highlight weaknesses, problems, and propose improvements that Capcom should consider, it appears that threats towards the developers are more prevalent among a seemingly vocal minority in Japan.

In Japan, where Monster Hunter is deeply ingrained and cherished as a long-standing franchise, I, as a dedicated fan, can attest to the intense anticipation that builds up before each new release. This fervor, coupled with the familiarity we have with figures like Ryozo Tsujimoto, the series’ producer for years, creates an interesting dynamic. For instance, Tsujimoto’s appearances in promos for Monster Hunter: World prior to its launch felt like personal guarantees about the game’s features.

However, it seems that when expectations weren’t met, as some fans perceived with Monster Hunter: World, a perfect storm of social media, discontent, and personal connections with developers has led to a situation where parts of the Japanese fanbase have expressed their frustration not just at the game, but at the creators themselves. This is a testament to the passionate connection fans have with this franchise.

It has been noticed that personalized threats are a problem not only for large Japanese game developers but also for others. As reported by The Sankei Shimbun, numerous game companies in Japan have enacted similar anti-harassment policies over the last two years (such as Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and Sega). They have made it clear that they will take both legal and criminal steps to safeguard their employees when necessary.

Last July, Sega sued someone who repeatedly hurled offensive remarks at their staff members on social media. The case concluded with the offender agreeing to pay a fine, deleting all harmful comments, and promising never to repeat such actions in the future.

Companies like Capcom aren’t alone in experiencing disruptions due to online threats. For instance, Nintendo had to reschedule two physical esports events and cancel Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo following a series of death and bomb threats via their Japanese online inquiry service. A 27-year-old man was subsequently apprehended. Incidents such as the Kyoto Animation arson attack serve as stark reminders that businesses must take online threats seriously, as they can escalate to real-world harm or even loss of life.

While online mistreatment of video game companies and staff is a widespread issue worldwide, it appears that Japanese game companies are currently encountering heightened levels of employee harassment in Japan. It’s intriguing to observe whether these new customer harassment policies, along with the intervention of lawyers and law enforcement in severe instances, will lead to a decrease in such conduct.

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2025-07-25 19:15