Monster Hunter Rise first arrived as a Nintendo Switch exclusive in March 2021, much to the delight of Nintendo fans. The latest entry in Capcom‘s popular co-op action RPG franchise garnered critical acclaim on its way to selling over 12 million copies. But Rise will soon leave those Nintendo roots behind.
On January 20th, 2023, Monster Hunter Rise released on PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well for the first time. An expansion called Sunbreak is slated to follow later this year. This ends Rise‘s era as a Nintendo exclusive and kicks off a new chapter in the game‘s journey.
For longtime industry watchers, it‘s an interesting case study on the shifting attitudes towards exclusives in the gaming landscape. How did this move come about, and what does it mean for the future of Monster Hunter?
A Franchise Forged on PlayStation, Found a Home with Nintendo
Let‘s step back and review some Monster Hunter history first.
Debuting in 2004 on PlayStation 2, Monster Hunter carved out a niche for itself as multiplayer co-op game focused on hunting ginormous beasts. Various PlayStation sequels followed. But it wasn‘t until the 2009 Wii release of Monster Hunter Tri that the franchise truly took flight in Japan.
| Game | Release Year | Initial Platform(s) | Total Copies Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter | 2004 | PlayStation 2 | 1.5 million |
| Monster Hunter 2 | 2006 | PlayStation 2 | 2.3 million |
| Monster Hunter Tri | 2009 | Wii | 4.8 million |
| Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | 6.2 million |
| Monster Hunter: World | 2018 | PS4, Xbox One | 17.7 million |
| Monster Hunter Rise | 2021 | Nintendo Switch | 12+ million* |
Source: Capcom Investor Relations. *As of June 2022.
Analysis shows the Nintendo partnership drove increased success for Monster Hunter, with each new release outselling the last.
In Japan especially, Monster Hunter became a cultural sensation on Nintendo platforms. Fans gathered for meetups to hunt monsters together. McDonald‘s locations offered decorations modeled after Monster Hunter villages.
For almost a decade from 2009 onward, the understanding was that Monster Hunter belonged to Nintendo. That finally changed with 2018‘s Monster Hunter World, which marked the first major new entry in five years. It launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, completely leapfrogging the Nintendo Switch.
The Runaway Hit of Monster Hunter Rise on Nintendo Switch
That brings us to 2021‘s Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch. Far from a sales slump due to playing second fiddle to World, Rise exploded in popularity.
Critical reviews praised the gameplay innovations like more agile movement via the new Wirebug mechanic. An average critics‘ score of 88 indicates Rise stands tall among the Switch‘s very best releases.
| Metric | Monster Hunter: World | Monster Hunter Rise |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic Score | 90 | 88 |
| Copies Sold (millions) | 17.7+ | 12+* |
| Weekly Players (Peak) | almost 500,000 | over 200,000 |
Source: Metacritic, Capcom IR, Steam Charts/SteamDB. *As of June 2022.
While falling just short of World‘s player base, Rise attracted its own loyal following for online co-op hunting action.
The March 2022 release of expansion Sunbreak spurred sales even further. At last official count, over 12 million copies of Rise/Sunbreak have shipped—a massive number for a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Yet clearly, Capcom envisioned wider horizons for Rise by bringing Monster Hunter back to PlayStation and Xbox platforms after its Switch exclusivity period ended.
Monster Hunter Rise PlayStation and Xbox Release
Originally planned for an autumn 2022 release, Rise‘s PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S debut faced a short delay before arriving on January 20th, 2023.
The Sunbreak expansion has a planned Q2 2023 release on those additional platforms. A glimpse at the timeline:
Monster Hunter Rise launches on Nintendo Switch
Sunbreak expansion releases on Switch
Rise releases on PlayStation & Xbox consoles
Sunbreak planned for PS & Xbox
Industry analysts predict strong initial sales in line with other multiplatform releases. However, the real test comes in sustaining engagement.
Rise must compete for attention against other live service hits like Destiny 2 or Fortnite with constant content updates. Capcom plans new free and premium DLC past Sunbreak‘s release to keep hunters active.
Examining the Shifting Platform Wars
All of this prompts a bigger question: what‘s changed around exclusive games? Rise is just one of numerous former exclusives expanding to rival platforms.
Look at where things stand among the "big 3" console makers:
- Nintendo Switch – 124 million units sold
- PlayStation 5 – 33 million so far
- Xbox Series X|S – Over 18 million
Nintendo is operating in a position of historic strength. Yet they now collaborate with Microsoft to bring Call of Duty and other Xbox titles to Switch.
Sony has opened the vault too after decades fiercely guarding PlayStation exclusives. Former PS4 exclusives like Horizon Zero Dawn now exist on PC and other platforms. June‘s The Last of Us Part 1 will follow suit.
The truth is exclusivity creates immense burden today. Game budgets balloon into hundreds of millions while consumers enjoy more choice of platforms than ever.
| Franchise | Estimated Budget | Initial Platform | Current Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destiny 2 | $500 million | PS4, Xbox One | PS, Xbox, PC, Stadia |
| Star Citizen | $500+ million | PC | PC |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | $316 million* | Everything | Everything |
Source: Forbes, PC Gamer, CD Projekt financials. *Includes marketing costs.
Restricting access via exclusivity seems wholly unwise for new IP requiring massive investment. Even platform holders like Sony and Nintendo shift gears once initial development costs are recouped.
Game makers ultimately want to sell to all 2.5+ billion gamers worldwide. Building sustainable franchises matters more than theoretical hardware advantage from exclusives.
So while it benefits Sony and Nintendo greatly to publish the latest God of War or Zelda exclusively, multiplatform is clearly the future for Monster Hunter and games like it.
Crystal Ball Gazing: Prediction on Exclusives Going Multiplatform
Drawing industry insights together, here are my predictions for gaming:
- The number of permanent exclusives will continue shrinking among third-party publishers like Capcom, Take-Two, Square Enix. temporary exclusivity periods maximize both buzz and financial return.
- Nintendo first-party exclusives aren‘t going anywhere. The likes of Mario, Smash Bros. and Animal Crossing are safe, though Nintendo allowing certain Xbox titles on Switch clouds things.
- Sony aggressively expanding to PC signals further erosion of permanent PlayStation exclusives. PC ports happen sooner after initial PS5 release for former exclusives like God of War Ragnarok.
- Microsoft favors Xbox console exclusivity over outright exclusivity. Making Activision games Xbox ecosystem exclusives post-acquisition keeps content off PlayStation only. Building value for Game Pass on console and cloud matters most.
- Cloud gaming subscriptions could alter exclusivity incentives long-term. Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Plus Premium can bypass traditional console wars.
Ten years from now, I foresee even fewer true exclusives as billions play the same games across a device of their choosing. Console makers and publishers maximize profit while players enjoy software freedom. It‘s an inflection point for industry norms.
I expect Monster Hunter to thrive in this new paradigm based on how Capcom continues advancing the franchise. While the Nintendo-exclusive era provided a huge boost, Rise reaching PlayStation and Xbox consoles kicks off the series‘ next vital growth phase. Where it heads next remains thrillingly unpredictable.
