Niantic is giving Monster Hunter the Pokémon Go treatment

Capcom and Niantic have announced a new partnership: Monster hunter nowa “real-world hunting action role-playing game” for mobile devices that combines an accessible version of the classic Monster Hunter gameplay with the augmented reality framework known from Niantic’s smash hit, pokemon go. It’s due out in September on Android and iOS platforms, with beta testing starting April 25. Registration for the beta test is open on the Monster hunter now website.

Monster hunter now players can find monsters and materials in the real world while walking around with their phones, team up with friends and strangers to hunt those monsters, and craft weapons and armor.

“The idea of ​​majestic monsters roaming the city streets was extremely compelling as a real-world game,” said Niantic’s chief product officer Kei Kawai during an online press briefing. The idea of ​​an augmented reality Monster Hunter game made such sense that, Kawai boasted, Capcom accepted Niantic’s pitch on their first meeting. The game is being developed at Niantic’s Tokyo studio. It’s free to play, supported by in-app purchases.

Niantic and Capcom praised what they felt was a simplified yet authentic version of the combat in the Monster Hunter series, using taps and swipes on the touchscreen. The game can be played one-handed in portrait mode, or in a landscape presentation closer to the console and PC Monster Hunter games. The maximum battle time is only 75 seconds, suitable for outdoor play; Niantic senior producer Sakae Osumi said the developer’s goal was to capture all the fun and challenge of Monster Hunter combat in this short window. The series’ distinctive, gameplay-changing weapon classes will remain, but players should expect to switch between these classes more often. “We hope that users will try different types of weapons,” said Tatsuo Nomura, executive director of Niantic Tokyo.

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Image: Niantic/Capcom

Niantic’s wayspots – local points of interest identified by the Niantic community – become resource-gathering resources Monster hunter nowwhile players’ real environment is divided into different ecological zones, with different monsters and materials in each.

Players can use a “paintball” item to tag monsters they encounter in the real world to hunt at home alone or with friends. Alternatively, their cute, feline Palico companions can automatically tag monsters with paintballs, even when the app is closed, to collect hunts for later.

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

Niantic has made several attempts to replicate winning pokemon go formula with other properties, with limited success. Picmin Bloomwith Nintendo, has been a modest hit, but the high-profile one Harry Potter: Wizards unite was shut down 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 to the point that it’s become Capcom’s biggest franchise. In Japan, where Monster hunter now 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’m confident we’ve got a hit on our hands,” said Kawai. “We want to make this game last for a very long time.”