Monster Hunter Wilds DLC Linked to PC Performance Issues

Monster Hunter Wilds players are demanding answers from Capcom following a startling discovery by a community member. A theory circulating on Reddit suggests that PC performance may be directly influenced by the number of downloadable content packs a user owns.

The investigation began after players noticed constant FPS drops where none should exist. What started as standard troubleshooting has evolved into a potential explanation for why some systems struggle to run the game smoothly, while others perform flawlessly.

The core theory was put forward by user de_Tylmarande, who posits a simple but controversial equation: More DLC = more FPS. The investigation began when the user compared performance between their own account and a friend's account on the same device.

While playing on their friend's account—which owned all available DLC—the game ran with little issue. However, switching back to their own account, which owned no DLC, resulted in performance "on the floor."

"I relog back into my friend account — and everything is fine. Nonsense. Shock. I refused to believe what I was seeing."

The user claims to have ruled out differences in settings, texture quality, and hardware, narrowing the variable down to DLC ownership.

According to the investigation, the issue stems from how the game handles microtransactions. de_Tylmarande believes Capcom implemented an "insanely crooked and aggressive" DLC ownership check function.

The theory suggests the game constantly verifies which add-ons are present. Players with extensive libraries require less checking, resulting in higher framerates. Conversely, those without DLC trigger more frequent checks, tanking performance.

• Performance fluctuates between accounts on identical hardware
• Friends with full DLC libraries report smooth gameplay
• Users with no add-ons experience unexplained frame drops

The user emphasizes this is likely a bug rather than intentional design, stating they have reached out to Capcom support for a fix.

The community has rallied around the findings, flooding Capcom's social media channels with requests for a resolution. In the interim, de_Tylmarande developed a personal mod to bypass the suspected check.

The mod does not unlock paid content but tricks the game into believing the user owns it. The results were immediate and dramatic.

"With any settings and in balance mode, the result, they say, is 'performance went through the roof.'"

Should Capcom fail to address the issue, the user has threatened to release the fix as open-source code, ensuring players can optimize their experience regardless of DLC ownership.

As of the report, Capcom has not commented on the specific DLC performance claims. However, the publisher has a roadmap of updates scheduled for the coming weeks.

The first update, Ver.1.040.03.01, is set for release on January 27, 2026. It promises "optimization improvements for Steam-specific processes." A second update, Ver. 1.041, is scheduled for February 18, 2026, aiming to improve stability across all platforms.

It remains to be seen if these pre-scheduled patches will resolve what de_Tylmarande describes as "very poor optimization" related to the DLC check.

The situation highlights a unique intersection of monetization and technical performance in modern gaming. While the theory is unconfirmed by the developer, the evidence presented by the community has sparked significant debate.

Players awaiting a fix are advised to watch for the upcoming patches later this month. Until Capcom issues an official statement, the community remains divided on whether the performance drops are a bug or a byproduct of the game's architecture.