Monster Hunter Outlanders: Open-World Mobile Game from Pokémon Unite Creators

There’s a new Monster Hunter game arriving soon, and the best part: It fits right in your pocket! Read on to learn more about the upcoming Monster Hunter Outlanders.

Monster Hunter Outlanders Brings Open-World Monster Hunting to MobileFrom the Developers Behind Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokemon Unite

Monster Hunter Wilds won’t be the only Monster Hunter game players can anticipate on the horizon, as Capcom and TiMi Studio Group (a Tencent subsidiary) are collaborating to bring the series' monster-hunting to mobile in Monster Hunter Outlanders. Aimed at blending the "Monster Hunter experience" with the convenience of mobile play, Outlanders will be a free-to-play open-world survival RPG where players can hunt "anytime and anywhere" right from their smartphones.

The game is set in expansive environments where players can explore and hunt in an open-world reminiscent of core Monster Hunter titles. Screenshots and teasers show players gliding through lush grasslands, swimming on lakes, and observing monsters going about their lives in natural habitats. Timi Studio’s Dong Huang mentioned in their Producers’ Interview that the game will retain "as much of the Monster Hunter series’ well-refined gameplay as possible while optimizing various parts of this game to maximize the fun of its unique battle system."

While there is no official release date yet, Capcom and TiMi are planning a series of playtests to gather player feedback before launching on Android and iOS devices. To stay updated on the latest news and potential opportunities to participate in these playtests, interested players can register on the official Monster Hunter Outlanders website. Additionally, filling out a short survey about their gaming experience and Monster Hunter preferences may give them "a better chance to qualify for future beta tests!"

TiMi Studio’s history with mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokemon Unite generates high expectations for the Monster Hunter Outlanders’ visuals. Based on the available gameplay footage and screenshots, the game already appears impressive for a mobile game, with some fans even suggesting that it might match the visual quality of Monster Hunter Rise on the Nintendo Switch. Given the game’s graphical quality, many players are now questioning if their phones can manage it.

While the developers haven’t officially disclosed the game’s minimum specifications, a survey on their website lists a range of supported Snapdragon processors, from the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to the older Snapdragon 845, which can provide players a clue as to what kind of device they’ll need to run the game smoothly regardless of their graphics settings.

Everything We Know About Monster Hunter Outlanders

The open world will comprise "forests, swamps, and deserts, all of which are seamlessly interconnected." The world is further enlivened by dynamic climates and a thriving ecosystem, where you can even observe turf wars between two colossal monsters.

Gamers can anticipate the return of monsters, including Diablos, Kulu-Ya-Ku, Pukei-Pukei, Barroth, Rathian, and the series’ flagship Rathalos. And should these prove insufficient, a cryptic large monster shrouded in clouds was also glimpsed in the trailer. Whether this represents a novel monster to hunt or a beloved veteran remains uncertain, but it may explain the "specific environmental conditions" in Outlanders. These conditions can induce mutations in monsters, rendering them even more aggressive.

Combat has undergone meticulous optimization for mobile platforms. While the developers haven't offered precise details in their Producers’ Interview, the accessible footage and screenshots indicate that numerous weapon mechanics will be retained. The degree to which these mechanics will be adjusted, however, is still undetermined.

New to the series is a construction system that lets players collect materials from the environment and build houses or various tools that players can use to explore the open world. Think of Wild Hearts’ Karakuris that assist players in exploration. It is currently unknown if this system will also assist in combat, as in Wild Hearts.

Unlike previous Monster Hunter titles, players will have to select from a roster of characters instead of creating their own. Each character will have their own personality, story, specialized weapons, and abilities. Weapons and armors from past entries will still appear, so players can still customize their characters however they want. The method of obtaining these characters is currently unknown, but according to IGN, the game will "feature in-app purchases," which could potentially make this a gacha game, where luck will play a role in obtaining desired characters.

There will also be new "companions" unique to the game who can assist players in item gathering and monster hunting. Aside from the Palicoes from past entries, the developers have shown off two other companions: a small monkey and a bird. The developers have yet to fully reveal their abilities, but have promised more information on these characters and their companions in future announcements.