Niantic is giving Monster Hunter the Pokémon Go treatment

Capcom and Niantic announce a new collaboration: monster hunter nowA “real-world hunting action role-playing game” for mobile devices, which combines an accessible version of classic Monster Hunter gameplay with the augmented reality framework familiar from Niantic’s smash hit, pokemon go, It is scheduled to launch in September on Android and iOS platforms with beta tests starting April 25. Registration for beta test is open monster hunter now Website.

monster hunter now Players will be able to find monsters and materials in the real world as they move around with their phone, team up with friends and strangers to hunt those monsters, and craft weapons and armor.

“The notion of majestic monsters roaming the city streets was extremely compelling as a real-world game,” Kei Kawai, Niantic’s chief product officer, said in an online briefing for the press. The idea of ​​an augmented reality Monster Hunter game was such a no-brainer that Kawai claimed, Capcom accepted Niantic’s pitch in their first meeting. The game is being developed at Niantic’s Tokyo studio. Supported by in-app purchases, it will be free to play.

Niantic and Capcom released what they said was a simplified but authentic version of the Monster Hunter series combat, using taps and swipes on a touchscreen. The game will be playable in portrait mode or in landscape presentation closer to console and PC Monster Hunter games. The maximum battle time is just 75 seconds, suitable for outdoor play; Niantic senior producer Sakae Osumi said it was the developer’s goal to capture all the fun and challenge of Monster Hunter combat in this short window. The series’ distinctive, gameplay-altering weapon classes remain, but players should expect to switch between them more frequently. “We hope users will be able to try out a variety of weapons,” said Tatsuo Nomura, executive director of Niantic Tokyo.

- Advertisement -

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Niantic Ways – local points of interest identified by the Niantic community – become resource gathering points in monster hunter nowWhile the players’ real-world environment is divided into different ecological regions, each with different monsters and materials.

Players can use “paintball” items to tag monsters that come to the real world to hunt at home, alone or with friends. Alternatively, their furry, feline Palico companions can automatically tag monsters with paintballs, even when the app is closed, to hunt down later.

When asked about competitive multiplayer and possible integration with mainline Monster Hunter games, Niantic said it could not comment, but Kawai encouraged fans to “please stay tuned”.

Niantic has made several attempts to repeat the win pokemon go formula with other properties, with limited success. pikmin bloomWith Nintendo, has been a minor hit, but high-profile Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was closed after less than three years in operation.

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Monster Hunter isn’t as famous as Harry Potter, but sales of the games have steadily increased over the past two decades, becoming Capcom’s biggest franchise. where in japan monster hunter now While being developed, the series has always been popular, and closely associated with handheld gaming. And the franchise is arguably better suited to augmented reality gameplay than any other since Pokémon.

“I firmly believe we have a hit on our hands,” Kawai said. “We want this game to last for a very long time.”