Monster Hunter Now has crossed 5 million downloads

Monster Hunter Now, the AR-based monster fighting game which is similar to Pokemon Go in terms of its real-world gameplay, has been a huge success. According to a report by Reuters, the game’s positive reception upon its release on Sept. 14 led to a six percent increase in shares of the Japanese game company Capcom.

The game is the mobile version of the immensely successful Monster Hunter franchise, which was launched by Capcom in 2004 with a PlayStation 2 title. Since then, the series has released multiple titles and has sold more than 90 million units worldwide. While these were primarily for consoles and PCs, Capcom decided to make it more accessible with Monster Hunter Now, a mobile game.

To develop the title, the Japanese developer tied up with Niantic, which had created the global sensation Pokemon Go. Monster Hunter Now is similar to the game and players can roam around the real world. Instead of catching Pokemons though, you will be up against monsters. You also have to complete quests and collect materials. These materials can then be used to forge and upgrade your weapons, making you a better warrior on the battlefield.

Additionally, the game has great social features as well.  You can team up with other players in the real world to defeat monsters. Another interesting feature of the game is the Paintball option. If you don’t feel like roaming around and playing the game, but still see a monster you would want to fight later, you can use the Paintball to capture it. Afterwards, you can battle from wherever you want.

Capcom shares climb as Monster Hunter Now opens to a great release

Monster Hunter Now has been downloaded more than five million times since its release on Sept. 14, according to the report citing data from Niantic. The game’s initial success has translated to the equity market as well. Capcom’s shares grew by six percent on Monday.

While Monster Hunter Now replicating the success of Pokemon Go might be really difficult, the game’s success does show the potential of the mobile gaming market. Over the past few years, several major developers including Ubisoft, Activision, Krafton, and more have invested significantly in the mobile gaming market, even bringing some of their iconic franchises to Android and iOS.

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