- Capcom has teamed up with the creators of Pokémon GO to bring Monster Hunter to mobile devices.
- Monster Hunter Now is set for a September 2023 launch on iOS and Android smartphones worldwide.
- Pokémon GO seems like the inspiration for Monster Hunter Now, as the new title will take hunting monsters to the streets of the world.
After heading to the big screen, it seems Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise is now destined for the very small screen. Today, Capcom announced that Monster Hunter is headed for mobile devices running iOS or Android, via a new title called Monster Hunter Now.
Monster Hunter Now is to be developed by Pokémon GO creators Niantic, and according to its website, its worldwide release date is September 2023.
Niantic has indicated that sign-ups for those interested in trying out the beta version of the game are now open, with the beta programme itself to launch on 25th April. Niantic says that only 10 000 players will be able to get access to the beta.
The companies also released a trailer video that shows off some of the gameplay and it looks like regular old Monster Hunter fair, except on mobile, which is great for fans of the series obsessed with its gameplay loop.
A few monsters have also been confirmed to be in the game, according to the video, including series mascot Rathalos, the agile Kulu-Ya-Ku, and the poison-spitting Pukei-Pukei.
Watch the teaser trailer for Monster Hunter Now below:
“Monster Hunter Now is a new and unprecedented Monster Hunter game that entices players to go out with their Palico and encounter incredible monsters in the real world,” said Monster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto in a press statement.
“Niantic’s AR technology delivers a ‘here and right now’ hunting experience, something that can be played casually, while honoring the gameplay and hunting action that only Monster Hunter can offer. Let’s get out into the real world and enjoy hunting!”
According to the press statement, it seems Monster Hunter Now will feature an overworld similar to that of Pokémon GO, except instead of Pokémon, you encounter the series’ iconic monsters as you walk around your cities and neighbourhoods.
When you do get to a monster, at like a garage for example, you can choose to battle the monster then and there via regular Monster Hunter third-person gameplay or you can use a “paintball” to “mark” a monster you discover in your walkabouts and then lure it to your home to be battled at your leisure.
Niantic has also made a big deal about a multiplayer functionality in the new title. How that will work, whether you will have to be out and about with your friends to hunt a monster together, or if you will be able to team up while you’re at your respective homes, is still up in the air.
However as casual play seems to be a core tenant of the game, it could very well be a combination of the two modes of play.
Monster Hunter is one of Capcom’s biggest and most profitable franchises. In 2021, Monster Hunter Rise sold 4 million units in just three days. With Monster Hunter Now, Capcom is combining is popular series with Niantic’s highly addictive gameplay. According to TechJury.com, Pokémon GO had over 71 million active users worldwide in 2021.
In 2016 it saw its peak userbase at 232 million players. If Monster Hunter Now can reach just a taste of these numbers, Capcom will have a mega-hit on its hands.
[Image – Capcom]
