Capcom Eyeing Monster Hunter on Switch 2 As Portable Play Takes Center Stage

Capcom is making big moves after the early success of the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan. The company is paying attention to Monster Hunter, the series that made it famous. The Monster Hunter series gained a large following in Japan due to handheld systems like the PSP and Nintendo 3DS, which were particularly well-suited for the franchise for years.

Even as the series moved to platforms like the PS4 and PC, many of its core fans still felt left out. In a recent conversation, the president of Capcom, Haruhiro Tsujimoto, talked about the problems Monster Hunter: World is having, especially with the PlayStation 5.

A lot of Japanese players can't play because the system is too expensive, especially when you add in subscription fees, controllers, and other accessories. It costs at least 100,000 yen for the base system, the subscription, the controllers, and other things, Tsujimoto said. The Nintendo Switch 2, on the other hand, lets you play online for about $20, which makes it much easier for more people to get.

Furthermore, Tsujimoto admitted that Monster Hunter: World has not lived up to promises. PlayStation and PC are still Capcom's main platforms, but the game hasn't been available on as many other systems as it could be. Performance problems on PC, trouble optimizing on PlayStation 5, and comments from long-time fans about not enough depth have all played a part.

According to Tsujimoto, one of the biggest problems is that the game can't be taken with you, leaving behind players who grew up with small Monster Hunter games. This is where the Nintendo Switch 2 might make a big difference. Japanese sales of the system have already been better than expected, so Capcom is looking into the chance of bringing Monster Hunter to the platform.

The plan would be to appeal to the franchise's roots in portable games, either by porting World or, more likely, making a new Monster Hunter game just for Switch 2. A game made for the Switch 2 could bring back the magic of the PSP and 3DS eras by bringing back gameplay elements that fans have loved for a long time and possibly increasing hardware sales in Japan and around the world.

This plan is backed up by history. When Monster Hunter Rise came out for the original Switch, it sold over 10 million copies and gave the machine a huge sales boost in Japan. A well-made Monster Hunter game for the Switch 2 that is portable could repeat or even beat that success, bringing together fans and hardware in a strong surge.

Monster Hunter: World put a lot of emphasis on graphics and spectacle, but it may have given up some of the things that made the series famous. Capcom can now find a good mix between the quality of the graphics and the depth of gameplay that fans want. By focusing on the things that made Rise and other portable games so popular, like easy-to-use controls, quick battles, and hunting with other people, Capcom could make Monster Hunter fun for both old and new fans.

It is clear what this means for Japanese developers in a wider sense. In Japan, platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2 have been selling very well since their release. These platforms will be important for long-term success. If Square Enix, Koei Tecmo, and Capcom want to keep and grow their Japanese audience, they will have to think carefully about which games they bring to the platform. Western developers, on the other hand, might not feel the same pressure because their main businesses are different.

Capcom sees the Switch 2 as more than just a new platform. It's an opportunity to get back to the brand's roots and sell more games and hardware. In the next several years, Monster Hunter could be as popular as it used to be on portable devices. This might mark the beginning of a new golden age for the series, one that is easy to get into, offers considerable depth, and is popular worldwide.

Fans and people who work in the gaming industry are both closely watching as Capcom continues to come up with ways to boost sales, such as lowering prices and releasing focused updates. Will Monster Hunter come back? Will it be on the Switch 2 this time? The answer seems more and more likely based on past events and early signs.