Capcom announced Monster Hunter Rise during the September 2020 Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, and needless to say fans could see a huge graphical leap compared to the previous Switch entry Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate — itself an enhanced re-release of 2015's Monster Hunter Generations on the 3DS. The developer detailed why with a post-event press release that confirmed Monster Hunter Rise is being made on the proprietary RE Engine.
This development engine was originally created for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but has since been used to create the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3, Devil May Cry 5, and is the basis for next-gen title Pragmata. Capcom said it is using the RE Engine to provide a "new, approachable Monster Hunter experience that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, and with anyone," so Rise should be an interesting showcase for how adaptable Capcom's tech is.
A new Monster Hunter being made for Switch using RE Engine modified specifically to fit the hybrid console was rumored prior to the Partner Showcase, which also debuted the RPG Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Though the video seen through this event and its accompanying Monster Hunter Direct show off a game visually improved over its Nintendo predecessors, it also suggests the RE Engine will make more mechanical depth possible.
Monster Hunter Rise will add a number of traversal mechanics that appear to be ways of translating and improving upon elements seen in Monster Hunter World. For example, the game will have open-world areas that players can explore by climbing up walls and racing across plains using the new Palamute canine companion. It will also have Wire Bugs that let players grapple to higher terrain or monsters, as well as perform additional mid-air moves.
At the top of Capcom's press release, it talks about the success of the Monster Hunter franchise, which has sold over 64 million units since 2004 as of June 30, 2020. The fact that two games are being released next year on Switch is just one testament to its reach, as they follow years of post-launch development on Monster Hunter World and the production of a movie adaptation starring Milla Jovovich.
The use of Capcom's RE Engine to develop a game specifically for Nintendo Switch also opens up possibilities for other series to make bigger splashes on the console. However, gamers will have to wait and see how Monster Hunter Rise performs using this engine to know how much they should expect from future titles.
Monster Hunter Rise will launch March 26, 2021, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Source: Capcom Investor Relations