An unforgettable drama ensued among Monster Hunter players concerning the newly released DLC–Erik’s Summer Hat. The official Monster Hunter Twitter account announced the bafflingly sunny new look for the handler, but some just don’t get it. There is some hype, some fury, and the comments are totally crazy.
The tweet was pretty straightforward, for starters. Capcom carries an announcement: Since this seasonal event, Erik, one of the game’s handlers, can appear in the summer hat outfit. Either pay for it as DLC or get it with the Flamefete DLC pack. Easy, right? Absolutely not. This news fractured the internet into two at the moment.
So on the pro-outfit side, you have people like @KingNiinetalez calling Erik their “sweet baby,” and @dangekiko jokingly asking for a speedo version. On the same side, @softlittlecub maintains that funny costumes have always been a charm of Monster Hunter. They alight back at the critics: This is just an optional costume change and y’all are UPSET.”
On the other hand, going completely bonkers was @jrnewty, who vented that Wilds is a “disgrace” for including “gay and sexualized children” (uh, great, that would’ve been a wild take, considering Erik is just wearing a hat). Their argument was that Monster Hunter’s brand does not need “social issues,” and those who are pushing this will “end up working at McDonald’s.” Harsh.
From there, #dramaetti started unfolding in the replies. @eViL_TOX doubled down on their previous statement claiming the “vast majority” of players don’t want “sexual deviances propaganda” in their games (exchange again: it’s a friggin hat). Meanwhile, @letsgo_wyo responded with hard-hitting facts on offenders, saying, “Statistically, priests and conservatives are more likely to be offenders than LGBT folks.” Yikes.
But there were those who just hate Erik as a person. For example, @ReaperHugs called him their “least favorite part of the game” and lamented how his storyline is at odds with the gameplay loop of apocalypse-ing monsters. @_headphonedent_ said they would “pay to remove Erik from the game.”
A glimmer of hope amidst this mess. Some players just want more customization. @ChewiiJual replied with a picture of another handler, saying, “Sure, but let me take this guy instead.” And @uselessrealm chimed in with a joke about a “handlerXsupport hunter layered DLC pack,” because why the heck not.
At the end of the day, all this mess just demonstrates how contested optional cosmetics can be. Some players see it as harmless fun and others see it as an insult to a game’s identity. But here’s the thing: it’s all Optional! If it’s not your cup of tea, just don’t buy it. Monster Hunter has always been about player choice- from hunting solo, hunting with friends, to dressing up your handler like a goof.
So yeah, Erik’s summer hat is here, and it’s causing more drama than a Rajang in a china shop. Whether you love it, loathe it, or just want to hunt monsters in peace, one thing’s always been clear: The Monster Hunter community has never been boring. Now back to the grind!
