Hot off the heels of the recent Summer Game Fest announcements, publishing and development studio Capcom is set to have its own showcase on June 12. As is typically the case with upcoming showcases like these, fans have begun speculating which games in the studio’s stable are expected to make an appearance. It’s no secret that Capcom has been on a hot streak as of late, with two hugely successful entries in landmark franchises likeResident EvilandStreet Fighterbeing just two of the titles it has released in 2023. This begs the question of what’s next, and there’s one title in particular that could see Capcom’s hot streak continue if announced at the showcase – a newMonster Huntergame.
Earlier in the year, it was rumored that Capcom was planning to make an announcement at E3 and the Tokyo Game Show regarding what fans could expectnext in theMonster Hunterseries, whether that wasMonster Hunter World 2or another spinoff similar toMonster Hunter Rise.Since that initial speculation, E3 was officially canceled and supplanted by a series of publisher and developer-specific showcases, and it’s possible that Capcom’s showcase might feature the announcement of a newMHtitle in development. As one of Capcom’s best-selling franchises, it’s safe to say this would be a huge win for the studio and continue its recent successes.
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What a Monster Hunter-Related Announcement Could Entail
Considering that thelast update forMonster Hunter Rise’s roadmapjust recently dropped, the time is nigh for somethingMH-related from Capcom. There’s honestly no better time to strike than when the iron is hot, and the window of time is now. Several signs have pointed to the existence of a newMonster Huntergame, including the filing of trademarks and comments from lead developers on the series, but the exact nature of any potential new title is still unknown.
Given that it’s been just over 5 years since the release and incredible success ofMonster Hunter World, the prevailing theory and hope among fans is that the Capcom showcase will include the reveal ofMonster Hunter World 2. There will, of course, be plenty of more information given regarding the newPokémon GO-styleMonster Hunterspin-offMonster Hunter Now, but a biggerMHannouncement would be a perfect fit for the showcase. Both timing and reliable information from the rumor mill point to the possibility of a major franchise sequel announcement sometime this year.
A New Monster Hunter Game Would Continue a Winning Streak for Capcom
This year alone saw therelease of theResident Evil 4remakeas well asStreet Fighter 6, both of which have been met with considerable critical praise and positive fan reception. In terms of the company’s sales and overall commercial success, one major title missing from Capcom’s 2023 slate of releases so far isMonster Hunter, which has proven to be a sales juggernaut since the release ofMonster Hunter World.
Despite originally being a very niche series that primarily saw strong sales outside the West,Monster Hunter Worldchanged the series' perception in North America and Europe and brought it to a mainstream audience for the first time. BetweenMonster Hunter Worldand thespiritual successorMonster Hunter Rise, the recent entries in the franchise have collectively sold just over 30 million units for Capcom. In just a few days after its release,Street Fighter 6has already sold over a million units and theResident Evil 4remake is just shy of 5 million units sold. Capcom is on a bit of hot streak these days, andMonster Hunteris the next piece of the puzzle to keep that trend going.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreakis available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation, 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
