Capcom has finally announced a brand new Switch-exclusive Monster Hunter, called Monster Hunter Rise, that’s ready to be released on March 26, 2021. The title was announced alongside Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin in Thursday’s Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase. Next week’s Tokyo Game Show 2020 will provide more information about both games.

In Monster Hunter Rise you are transported to Kamura Village. A serene mountain locale that’s clearly heavily inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics similar to Yukumo Village in Portable 3rd. In this game, Capcom has overhauled many new features first seen in Monster Hunter: World, evolving the new formula from their most successful title yet.

  • First of all, the Slinger/Clutch Claw grappling system has been revamped into an item called ‘Wirebug’ that lets you grapple in any direction, both for scaling towering cliffs and structures and adding new attack moves.
  • For better or worse, gone has segmented areas with loading screens. Now even a Switch-exclusive title is able to deliver maps with no loading times or transitions between areas.
  • Just like World and 4, the story will be an important part of Rise. Kamura Village is threatened by a mysterious catastrophe named ‘Rampage’. And it’s up to you to solve and stop it from happening again.
  • The debut of new ‘Canyne’ companions called Palamutes that you can ride around and helps you by attacking monsters, while the classic ‘Felyne’ Palico partner returns to give on-demand supporting actions like healing or buffs.
  • And obviously four-player co-op will be available. But this time around each hunter is capable of bringing along one Palamute or Palico to jazz up your hunting sessions.

So far Capcom has shown off four new monsters: the shape-shifting Bird Wyvern Aknosom, the amphibious Tetranadon, the pack leader Great Izuchi, and the flagship Zinogre-like Magnamalo. While confirmed returning monsters are Arzuros and Tobi-Kadachi. Expect the numbers of new and returning monsters to rise up until Monster Hunter Rise is released next year. Additionally, Capcom will also be offering two limited editions for Monster Hunter Rise:

  • Deluxe Edition that’s bundled with:
  • the full game.
  • bonus DLC Pack:
  • Hunter layered armor ‘Kamurai’ set.
  • Palamute layered armor piece ‘Shuriken Collar’.
  • Palico layered armor piece ‘Fish Collar’.
  • Gestures (4 Jumps).
  • Samurai pose set.
  • Kabuki face paint.
  • ‘Izuchi Tail’ hairstyle.
  • and the Collector’s Edition that includes:
  • a physical copy of the game.
  • Deluxe Kit DLC Pack download code.
  • a Magnamalo amiibo.
  • a Kamura Mark pin badge.
  • and a monster icon sticker pack.

Pre-ordering the base or Deluxe version will unlock bonus Palamute Retriever Costume and Palico Forest Cat Costume layered armor as well as Novice Talisman item for some extra assistance in the early stages of the game.

  • the full game.

  • bonus DLC Pack:

  • Hunter layered armor ‘Kamurai’ set.

  • Palamute layered armor piece ‘Shuriken Collar’.

  • Palico layered armor piece ‘Fish Collar’.

  • Gestures (4 Jumps).

  • Samurai pose set.

  • Kabuki face paint.

  • ‘Izuchi Tail’ hairstyle.

  • Hunter layered armor ‘Kamurai’ set.

  • Palamute layered armor piece ‘Shuriken Collar’.

  • Palico layered armor piece ‘Fish Collar’.

  • Gestures (4 Jumps).

  • Samurai pose set.

  • Kabuki face paint.

  • ‘Izuchi Tail’ hairstyle.

  • a physical copy of the game.

  • Deluxe Kit DLC Pack download code.

  • a Magnamalo amiibo.

  • a Kamura Mark pin badge.

  • and a monster icon sticker pack.