Niantic and Capcom announce Monster Hunter Now with a beta this month

Niantic's new Monster Hunter Now is the most convincing AR game since the original Pokémon GO phenomenon

Monster Hunter is the next IP getting the augmented reality treatment courtesy of Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO. Monster Hunter Now is a smartphone exclusive game that’ll see you hunting monsters with action combat, wherever you are in the world.

The concept is simple enough. Take the Pokémon GO formula, and inject the world of Monster Hunter. You can collect monster parts to assemble new gear for your hunter, which in turn makes you more capable of taking down bigger, tougher monsters.

“Monster Hunter Now is a new and unprecedented Monster Hunter game that entices players to go out with their Palico and encounter incredible monsters in the real world,” said Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer of the Monster Hunter series for Capcom.

“Niantic’s AR technology delivers a ‘here and right now’ hunting experience, something that can be played casually while honoring the gameplay and hunting action that only Monster Hunter can offer.”

It’s a solid fit for Niantic’s established AR game formula, and Monster Hunter is a series that’s only getting more popular. Some existing Monster Hunter mechanics have already been confirmed to be adapted into the game, such as the Paintball. A Paintball can mark a monster you come across while walking around, allowing you to continue to fight it later.

Monster Hunter Now is looking to launch in September 2023, with a closed beta available for sign-ups happening later this month. Just take a look at Monster Hunter Now’s official website for more information on the closed beta.