Monster Hunter Rise has only been out for three days now, but it's already proving to be a popular title. The game represents a partial return to the series' handheld gaming roots after Monster Hunter World showed the games could be successful on home consoles. Monster Hunter Rise draws some influence from Monster Hunter World but also introduces innovative new aspects to the series like the Wyvern Riding mechanic. The game's hybrid nature seems to be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch, and so far players have been grabbing up copies.
Capcom definitely did itself a favor with the release of the Monster Hunter Rise demo back in January. With new mobility mechanics and new monsters to fight, players had a good amount of time to experience a slice of the game's world before its release. Monster Hunter Rise's second Switch demo even gave players an early shot at going up against the title's flagship monster, Magnamalo. Though players weren't able to carry any progress over to the full game, the demos still gave new and old players time to practice with weapons and fighting strategies and likely contributed to the game's opening weekend success.
Capcom announced today that Monster Hunter Rise has exceeded 4 million copies shipped, which makes its opening weekend a little shy of Monster Hunter World's totals back in 2018. Monster Hunter World shipped 5 million units in its opening weekend, but it was also available for both the PS4 and Xbox One, while Rise is only available on the Nintendo Switch. Although copies shipped isn't exactly the same as copies sold, the game's success will continue to add to the total sales figures of the Monster Hunter series, which passed 66 million units at the end of last year.
The good news for Monster Hunter Rise is that it's also receiving praise right now from players and critics alike. So far the game's performance on the Switch has been considered a strong point, as well as the overall improved mobility for hunters. The new wirebug mechanics and the mountable Palamute companion are arguably the biggest contributors to improved mobility, and skilled players can traverse maps rather quickly to shave time off of hunts. The game has also received praise for monster variety, environmental depth, and accessibility to new Monster Hunter players.
Monster Hunter Rise may still have more work to do though. The game's main storyline isn't that long and many players have already hit the endgame grind for the best gear. As more players reach this point, there will be more comparisons made as to how Monster Hunter Rise's endgame compares to Monster Hunter World, especially its Iceborne expansion. A satisfying endgame in Rise may require more content in the future, but for now it's a fresh experience for fans.
Monster Hunter Rise is now available for the Nintendo Switch. A PC release is slated for 2022.
Source: Capcom