Capcom took to the Tencent game conference in Beijing today and revealed Monster Hunter Online on PC. The title is set to be a free to play MMO, and is currently only confirmed for release in China.
The game is powered by CryEngine 3 and the reveal trailer makes the recently released Wii U title Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate look decidedly old fashioned. It seems that the title will feature destructible environments, and that monsters can interact with items in the landscape, with the series’ newest monster ‘Caeserber’ picking up a log in its teeth to attack the hunter.
It does in fact look like a number of the proposed changes set for the 3DS’s Monster Hunter 4 have made it into this title as well.
The game’s website is already live and features galleries and game details, though your Google translate will have to work overtime to get the best out of it.
As a co-production between Chinese developer Tencent and Capcom, and given the similarity with Eastern exclusive Monster Hunter Frontier, it seems likely that once again Western hunters will have to look on from the sidelines. There are of course, as with Phantasy Star Online 2, ways around this for the truly dedicated.
The game is set for ‘testing’ this summer.
KeRaSh
If they released something like that on the PS3 and or 360 (even at retail price), they’d make a fortune. Apparently that’s not what Capcom is in this business for… :P
Dom El
I still don’t remotely understand Capcom’s treatment of the Monster Hunter Franchise – they release it on solitary formats, or in limited regions. It is one of their biggest IP’s, and half the world can’t play it!
Frontier came out on the 360, but only in Japan, so how many people can have possibly played it on that format?!
KeRaSh
Yeah. I personally don’t get the love for the franchise. Admittedly, I’ve only played the PSP demo and saw videos of other versions but I never felt the urge to get into the franchise and half their games (at least that’s how it seems to outsiders) are rereleases on different platforms. ^^
Dom El
As series go it’s certainly not that welcoming – though the Wii U/3DS version of Tri is the most complete package yet.
I love the series, but it’s still deeply frustrating to have incremental updates, and/or versions that only come out in the East, rather than a genuine progression. In the scheme of things I’ve probably only really played two distinct versions of Monster Hunter – and even then you see a lot of crossover in the creatures you face!
Airiaen
Should be alright if doesn’t interfere much with Monster Hunter’s main gameplay. Not sure how a F2P thing could work unless its like Phantasy Star Online 2. Bit weird not to go for a worldwide Steam version, I’m sure that’ll be successful if done right.
Dom El
Very helpfully I didn’t add the trailer itself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lxd_V1P_Vhs
hazelam
why do they only release these F2P versions of games in china?
is it because they sell well in the west and they know they’d have no chance trying to sell original titles in china.
no offense, but china does seem to be the world counterfeit capital.
but MMOs are big there, you can’t steal what’s free can you?
and hey, it’ll keep god knows how many gold sellers in employment. ^_^
Kennykazey
This looks awesome, damn you Capcom!
Broonba
Who runs Capcom ?? Kermit & Miss Piggy ?? Coz judging by some of their decisions, it would appear that they’re run by muppets.
CR8ZYH0RSE
It’ll be big deal if Capcom can get this game to take off in China,a foothold in the door.There is a big market there to tap into.