Monster Hunter Now puts a Pokemon Go-style twist on Capcom's action series

Monster Hunter Now
(Image credit: Capcom)

Pokemon Go developer Niantic is turning its attention to Capcom's Monster Huntą¼’er franchisešŸ’ƒ to produce Monster Hunter Now.

Announced earlier today, Monster Hunter Now is coming to Android and iOS devšŸ’›ices  in September 2023. A limited closed beta kicks off next week on April 25, and you can sign up for the test session now, althošŸ”„ugh the beta is capped at 10,000 total players.

Yes, this is Niantic's Pokemon Go-like šŸ“šŸ¦¹spin on the Monster Hunter series. Except whereas Pokemon Go has a focus on capturing monsters, Monster Hunter Now is only concerned with slaughtering them, as you and your friends team up worldwide to take on fearsome foes.

It sounds like Monster Hunter Now will work pretty similarly to Pokemon Go - you'll head to a real-world location to face off agašŸŽ€inst a creature like a Rathalos or Kulu-Ya-Ku, except all the battles here are played oušŸ‰t in real-time, with ducking and dodging outstretched claws and talons crucial to survival.

A Pokemon Go-like take on Monster Hunter makes a lot of sense: Capcom's series is still riding the high of Monster Hš”unter World's record-breaking sales, and Monster Hunter Rise has just debuted across consoles, in particular arriving on Xbox Game Pass. A pivot to mobile for a shot at an even bigger audience makes perfect sense for Monster HunteršŸ’§.

Considering Niantic's recent endeavours, like ę¾³ę“²å¹øčæ5开儖号ē åŽ†å²ęŸ„čÆ¢:Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, haven't come close tšŸŒŗo the same success as PokemšŸŒŗon Go, it'll be interesting to see if Monster Hunter Now can find a global audience.

Check out our ę¾³ę“²å¹øčæ5开儖号ē åŽ†å²ęŸ„čÆ¢:new games 2023 guide for a look ahead at all the big games set to arrive throughout the rest of the year. 

Hirun Cryer
ę¾³ę“²å¹øčæ5开儖号ē åŽ†å²ęŸ„čÆ¢:Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time hešŸŒŒ freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys cošŸ¦©ntemporary manga and anime.