The Monster Hunter franchise is one of the most popular game titles from Capcom which debuted in 2004 for the PS2. The game let players hunt giant monsters together to earn money and get precious items to upgrade their weapons and armor. It became so popular that it evolved to other platforms such as PlayStation Portable, 3DS, and PS3, among others.
However, the game’s popularity has always been concentrated in Japan and somewhat struggled with Western audiences. Ryozo Tsujimoto, the game’s producer, is looking to change that with the development of “Monster Hunter World.”
Why is “Monster Hunter” less popular in the West?
There are a few possible reasons why the game is more popular in Japan.
The first reason could be the platform itself.
The game is focused on local multiplayer that’s very popular in Japan. Group of players would meet up in person with their PSP or 3DS to play with each other. However, in the West, online play is much more popular with consoles like PS4 and Xbox One.
Neither the PS4 nor Xbox One made an impact in Japan, where only five million units of PS4 were sold compared to 20 million 3DS.
The second reason may have something to do with the gameplay. The game can be very tough for beginners because of its steep learning curve and complex game controls.
The changes that are expected in 'Monster Hunter World'
Capcom’s goal was to create a game for the modern generation of consoles and wants to make “Monster Hunter” more realistic than ever before.
Developers want to make the monsters behave more naturally and have a realistic ecosystem of plants, weather, and other animals.
In addition, with all the power available for the modern consoles, the game can be more immersive with its upgraded graphics and more intelligent AI.
The developers are also looking to attract new players by making simple tweaks to the game’s user interface and having simpler game controls so it may not intimidate beginners.
Tutorials of the game will now be fully voiced. This is certainly a great way of introducing the game to new players.
Tsujimoto said in a statement, “Our love of Monster Hunter made this new concept, and this new concept is something we think and hope is going to be really appealing to the West,” according to a report by The Verge.
The game is expected to arrive in early 2018. Check out its trailer below.
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