Recent rumors suggest that Electronic Arts (EA) may discontinue its support for Wild Hearts, an action-RPG that aimed to rival Capcom's Monster Hunter. Launched on February 16th earlier this year, Wild Hearts has gathered a small but loyal following. While no official announcement has been made, the discussion around this potential move by EA is already heating up.
The Game’s Initial Promise and Current Standing
Wild Hearts made its debut earlier this year with a lot of promise. The game received a favorable Metacritic score of 79 and generated considerable buzz in the gaming community. As an action-RPG, it shares many similarities with Capcom's Monster Hunter, primarily the hunt for enormous creatures using powerful weapons. However, it appears that Wild Hearts' future may not be as bright as initially thought.
Insider Information
A Reddit post by BeardyShaman, who is also the moderator of the official Wild Hearts Discord channel, has raised concerns about the future of the game. According to his post, EA may no longer be willing to invest time or resources into developing Wild Hearts further. BeardyShaman suggests that EA had initially hoped for the game to become a multi-million dollar title right off the bat. Unfortunately, it seems that Wild Hearts did not meet these lofty expectations.
Sales and Technical Issues: Possible Reasons for Ending Support
Although there has not been an official confirmation, multiple factors could contribute to EA's decision to cease support for Wild Hearts. One of these could be lower-than-expected sales. Another significant issue could be the technical glitches that plagued the game at launch. Many players reported encountering bugs on the Xbox Series X/S and the PS5, which could have dissuaded potential buyers. However, it's worth noting that Wild Hearts does not require an internet connection for gameplay, so existing players can continue to play even if support is terminated.
Unofficial Speculation: The Role of Comparisons to Monster Hunter
One cannot overlook the importance of the comparison to Monster Hunter in this situation. EA's expectation for Wild Hearts to rival Monster Hunter in terms of popularity and revenue may have set the bar too high. This could partly explain the hesitation to continue investing in the game, especially if it isn't delivering the expected financial returns.