Monster Hunter Now gives Capcom’s series the Pokémon Go treatment

Capcom has announced that they will be collaborating with Niantic. Monster Hunter Now, a “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, Pokémon Go. It’s due out in September on Android and iOS platforms, with a beta test beginning on April 25. The beta test registration is now open. Monster Hunter Now website.

Monster Hunter NowThe game will allow players to search for monsters out in the world with their smartphones, work with others to capture those monsters as well as craft armor and weapons.

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

Niantic and Capcom touted what they said was a simplified but authentic version of the Monster Hunter series’ combat, using taps and swipes on the touchscreen. It will also be possible to play the game one-handedly in landscape mode or portrait, similar to console Monster Hunter titles. The maximum battle time is just 75 seconds, to be 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 battles in this short window. The series’ distinctive, gameplay-altering weapon classes remain, but players should expect to be switching between them more frequently. “We hope users will try out different types of weapons,” said Niantic Tokyo’s executive director Tatsuo Nomura.

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Niantic’s wayspots — local points of interest identified by the Niantic community — become resource gathering points in Monster Hunter Now, while players’ real-world environment is divided into different ecological zones, with different monsters and materials occurring in each.

Players can use a “paintball” item to tag monsters encountered in the real world to hunt at home, alone or with friends. Palicos are cute cats that can automatically tag monsters in the real world with paintballs.

Asked about competitive multiplayer and potential integration with mainline Monster Hunter games, Niantic said it couldn’t couldn’t comment, but Kawai encouraged fans to “please stay tuned.”

Niantic made multiple attempts to reproduce the winning gameplay. Pokémon Go Other properties are added to the formula, but with little success. Pikmin BlossomThe modest success of, with Nintendo has not been the case, but it is still a big hit. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite The company was closed down in less than 3 years of operation.

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Monster Hunter isn’t as famous as Harry Potter, but the games have steadily increased in sales over the last two decades to the point it has become Capcom’s biggest franchise. Monster Hunter is the biggest franchise in Japan. Monster Hunter NowWhile the series continues to be developed, it has always enjoyed a high level of popularity and is closely related to handheld gaming. And the franchise is arguably better suited to augmented reality gameplay than any other since Pokémon.

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