Capcom makes damn good video games, but for years now, the publisher’s peddled dodgy microtransactions — often to the detriment of the titles that they’re attached to.

And the newly-released Monster Hunter Wilds is no different. Just like in 2018’s Monster Hunter World, players need to pay up with real money if they want to make cosmetic edits to their character or companion Palico.

To be clear, the first edit — having already created your custom hunter right at the start of the game — is free. But beyond that, you’ll need to cough up $5.99 / £5.79 for a ‘Character Edit Voucher’ three-pack on the PS Store.

Wilds’ character creator is fairly in-depth, and your hero shows up in just about every cutscene throughout the campaign — so if you spot something you’d like to change, you better get it right on your first try.

Between these vouchers, Devil May Cry 5’s red orbs currency, and the kerfuffle surrounding Dragon’s Dogma 2’s paid consumables, Capcom’s made a frustrating habit of flogging stuff that most fans would deem unnecessary.

And the thing is, these microtransactions are typically unavailable during the game’s review period — so reviewers don’t see what’s for sale until the public launch. Hmmm.