Monster Hunter Now: Everything We Know

Capcom has officially joined the Pokémon Go bandwagon by way of announcing Monster Hunter Now, an upcoming Android and iOS game that'll take players away from their comfort zones, and more towards local parks, towns, and neighbourhoods. And yes, it'll be equally as rife with colossal beasts to not only fight, but loot for additional gear and loadout accessories, too. Or, at least that's what we've gathered from its rather vague elevator pitch, anyway.

So, what more do you need to know ahead of its September launch? Well, here's what we've been able to scrape together on the subject since first hearing of it earlier this week. Monster Hunter Now: what is it, and above all, is it worth going out and purchasing a new pair of running shoes for? Here's what we can tell you based on the information provided to date.

What Is Monster Hunter Now?

Monster Hunter Now is an upcoming “here and right now” augmented reality adventure game by Niantic. Its idea is simple: players are invited to explore their home communities and hunt for legendary beasts and creatures using their Android or iOS devices. In a similar fashion to its console counterparts, Monster Hunter Now asks that players team up with other hunters and track the foes that roam between regions. Or in this case, the streets and alleys of your local neighborhood.

According to series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, “Monster Hunter Now is a new and unprecedented Monster Hunter game that entices players to go out with their Palico and encounter incredible monsters in the real world. Niantic’s AR technology delivers a ‘here and right now’ hunting experience, something that can be played casually, while honoring the game play and hunting action that only Monster Hunter can offer. Let’s get out into the real world and enjoy hunting!”

Story

It goes without saying that, being a game that's based on AR technology, and not to mention one that's without any formal structure, there won't be a story to unravel here. On the contrary, Monster Hunter Now will actually provide you with all the tools needed to develop a story for yourself—be it at the crack of dawn, or during the twilight hours.

Going by what's been said, you will take on the role of a Hunter—an elite warrior who's trained to track, study, and eventually defeat great foes that, true to the Monster Hunter formula, rarely come enveloped in small packages. As such, you will leave the norm and construct a narrative on your own two feet. Literally.

Gameplay

Monster Hunter Now will utilize its advanced AR technology to give players an authentic hunting experience in their own communities. Serving as an overhead map littered with geographical points of interest, explorers will need to search the crags and crevices beyond their homes and target various monsters that occupy uncharted waters. Sort of like Pokémon Go, but with a heavy helping of Capcom's signature Monster Hunter essence.

In the words of Niantic, Monster Hunter Now will add a” social element to the thrilling experience”—a feature that will shine the brightest when players band together to hunt monsters as a unit. What's more, fellow users will have the chance to utilize a ‘Paintball' option—a secondary tool that lets other users target monsters for others to hunt once they've returned home at a later time.

Going by the details outlined by Niantic, battles in Monster Hunter Now will be commute-friendly, and will therefore be reduced to 75 second bouts, as opposed to the usual hour-long feuds as seen in the full-fledged console versions. This will, more or less, give those on the move the opportunity to engage in head-to-head battles without the added preliminary phases.

Development

Niantic, a studio best known for its long arm of AR titles that range from Pokémon Go to Pikmin Bloom, first announced its partnership with Capcom on April 17, 2023. Since bringing Monster Hunter Now to the table, the two firms have established a rough September 2023 release window, and have gone ahead and teased a closed beta testing phase, which will be going live on April 25, 2023. It will be available for just 10,000 Android and iOS users.

Trailer

Piqued your interest? If so, then you'll be pleased to know that Niantic did in fact release a sneak preview of Monster Hunter Now earlier this week. And while there could definitely be a few more elements to explore ahead of its eventual release, the general aesthetic of the game is certainly there. Need we say more? You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Monster Hunter Now will be launching on Android and iOS devices in “September 2023.” It'll receive a closed beta test at the beginning of April 25, though only for a select 10,000 participants who have submitted their interest in advance. Interested in joining the queue and catching a glimpse for yourself? You can register your interest in the closed beta over on its official site here.

Right now, there are no special editions or pre-order bonuses to accompany the standard release on Android and iOS. Just to reiterate that you can, of course, submit your credentials for a chance of getting closed beta access this coming week. According to the Niantic article, accepted applicants will receive an email ahead of its launch.

If you're planning on staying in the loop ahead of its September launch, be sure to follow its social feed here. If anything interesting happens to pop up in the meantime, we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Monster Hunter Now when it drops? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.