Capcom Announces Guidelines for Responding to Customer Harassment Following Negative Reviews of Monster Hunter Wilds

As you probably know, over the last month or so, this game has received mostly Overwhelmingly Negative reviews on Steam. At first, the devs didn’t address these reviews, as they focused on the Second Free Title Update. However, now that the update is out, Monster Hunter Wilds developer and publisher, Capcom, made a powerful statement by issuing the official Guidelines for Responding to Customer Harassment.

Capcom Issues Guidelines for Responding to Customer Harassment

On July 4, Capcom posted an Important Notice on one of the official Capcom Japan site. This announcement is titled: “How we respond to customer harassment (defamation, libel, etc.)”.

In it, the devs explain that they take customer opinions and requests seriously. However, there have been some instances of: “of slander, libel, denigration, intimidation, threats to harm or disrupt business, and harassment against our executives and employees by name or in a manner that recalls specific individuals, via customer support desks, social media, and review/posting sites on game sales sites”.

Thus, Capcom has decided to create Guidelines for Responding to Customer Harassment. The idea behind the Guidelines is that some malicious comments can hurt and undermine the devs’ work environment.

The devs noted: “… if we find any of the following behaviors that are beyond the scope of socially acceptable standards, we may refuse to provide support or services. Furthermore, in severe cases, we may contact the police or lawyers and take legal action, including criminal proceedings”.

You can read the full list here. Basically, the list includes any type of slander, violent behaviour (including threats and intimidation), visiting/staying at the company premises without permission, unreasonable demands for punishment of Capcom employees, sexual harassment, demands for special treatment, and more.

Monster Hunter Wilds Players Are Concerned About the Guidelines

Now, of course, we all have every right to share our opinions and critiques of something. However, we should be mindful that the criticism should be constructive. Monster Hunter Wilds players acknowledged that the devs had to be under immense stress if Capcom had to issue the Guidelines for Responding to Customer Harassment.

Unfortunately, many players pointed out that this could also be a subtle way of censoring the reviews. Qooooks noted: “I can already smell the: Good Criticism. Capcom: A-are you Th-threatening me???!”.

Obviously, the majority of players are all for these rules, but there’s just a looming fear of them being abused. Exciting_Bandicoot16 explained: “While going after the devs and support staff at Capcom for the state of Wilds is deplorable, this is treading into very murky waters”.

Hopefully, these guidelines will prove to be a good thing for both Capcom and the player base! We’ll have to wait and see, of course. In the meantime, Lagiacrus and this week’s Event Quests await! Have fun and happy hunting.