Sunday, June 25, 2017

News:: Are Capcom's expectations for Monster Hunter: World realistic?

Another E3 has come and gone, and now we play the waiting game. In the meantime, let's discuss one of the big reveals from the show: Monster Hunter: World.

Capcom's landmark hunting-gathering series has long been a phenomenon in its native land, but that success hasn't been replicated elsewhere. Capcom believes that a big chunk of the blame rests on the Western handheld market, which is nowhere near as robust as Japan's. With World, bound for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, the company hopes to change that.

I personally am not a huge fan of the franchise. I gave it a fair shot with Tri on Wii, yet it never "clicked" even after dozens of hours of solo and party play. That said, I do understand how Monster Hunter could amass such a die-hard following, in much the same way as I understand that its complex controls and time-investment demands have turned away many others. To find success, World will need to be more inviting to newcomers while retaining the series' familiar essence.

But even if World checks all the right boxes, I doubt that it'll grow the Western audience in a significant way. And what of Japan, where Monster Hunter reached its lofty heights through the strength of local multiplayer on handhelds? Is Capcom willing to risk guaranteed sales in one market to chase another that may not exist?

Are Capcom's expectations for Monster Hunter: World realistic? screenshot

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