A new “Mon-Hun,” perfect for playing anywhere

The concept of Monster Hunter, which has not changed since the first title in the series, is an action game that can be played cooperatively with others. When it was decided that we would develop a title for Nintendo Switch, which is highly portable, it inspired a strong desire in me to create a Monster Hunter game that was different from the record-breaking hit Monster Hunter: World (MH:W herein) that also took into account the portability of the platform. Game devices that can be taken on the go require a unique tempo and an “anytime, anywhere” playing style. I decided to create an entirely new title that allowed players to effortlessly invite friends to go hunting, providing a different feel from MH:W, which was created to sit back and enjoy playing on a stationary console. Mr. Kadowaki serving as producer and Mr. Ichinose serving as director took the lead as we began development on Monster Hunter Rise (MHRise herein).

Balance between graphics and action achieved with RE ENGINE

In order to give the hunting action in MHRise a new feel, we made use of our proprietary development engine RE ENGINE. Based on the concept of “anytime, anywhere, effortlessly,” new additions were introduced to the game, such as the Wirebug hunting actions that allows players to freely traverse over terrain and Palamutes, which are dog-like hunting Buddies that players can ride to move between the seamlessly connected locales at high speed. We were also able to achieve both the highest standard of graphics for the Nintendo Switch and a short loading time. All of these innovations are the result of our efforts to provide stress-free play even without a TV or other large screen.

I feel that RE ENGINE played a large role in our ability to achieve this new hunting experience. The development team and engine are the two pillars expanding the possibilities for expression and action in MHRise.

The joys of hunting—now and in the future

Development was a series of challenges made even more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic, but our team members overcame these obstacles and took great pride in developing this title. The staff members who will be responsible for the next title are making steady strides in their training. I am also happy to see synergistic effects, like users who enjoyed MHRise now purchasing MH:W.

The series has now grown into a brand that has sold a total of 75 million units (as of June 30, 2021), but we are not yet satisfied. There are still people out in the world who are unfamiliar with “Mon-Hun,” and there is still plenty of room for further expansion in game development. New ways of playing games and new environments to play them in await. We will continue striving to create a Monster Hunter Craze throughout the world that will continue to rage 10 and 20 years down the line.