Niantic is growing an augmented actuality Monster Hunter motion RPG

Niantic, which is probably most identified for growing Pokémon Go, is engaged on an augmented actuality model of Monster Hunter for Android and iOS units. The corporate has teamed up with Capcom to create what it calls a “real-world looking motion RPG” entitled Monster Hunter Now. Much like Pokemon Go and Niantic’s different titles, together with the now-defunct Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, gamers should stroll round with their telephones to search out monsters to battle. They’ll additionally crew up with mates and strangers and use the supplies they collect to craft weapons and armor. 

Based on Polygon, Niantic and Capcom have revealed at a press briefing that the sport can be free to play, with in-app purchases. It is going to characteristic simplified fight similar to Pokémon Go’s and could have gamers swiping and tapping on their cellphone screens. Gamers can struggle battles one-handed in portrait mode, however they will additionally battle monsters in panorama mode in the event that they wish to replicate the Monster Hunter expertise they’re used to on PCs and consoles. 

Whereas the franchise is understood for difficult gamers with battles that might final for greater than 5 minutes, although, the utmost battle time for the cell recreation will solely be 75 seconds. Sakae Osumi, a Niantic senior producer at its Tokyo studio the place the sport is being developed, stated the corporate needs to encapsulate Monster Hunter’s enjoyable battles inside a shorter window of time. Lengthy, drawn-out battles aren’t best for cell video games the place you are speculated to stroll round anyway. That stated, Monster Hunter Now will include a characteristic that may enable gamers to tag monsters they encounter with a paintball in order that they might battle them at residence, both on their very own or with mates. Their Palico companions may robotically tag monsters, as effectively, even when the app is not open. 

Niantic is now accepting sign-ups for the sport’s closed beta testing, which is able to start on April twenty fifth. If all goes effectively, and testing is a hit, Monster Hunter Now will formally launch someday in September this yr.