A new rumor has come up for the Nintendo Switch 2, this time about what games we might be seeing for the console’s launch.
NecroFelipe, who uses the handle Necrolipe on Famiboards, shared this insight on a thread on that website:
“Next mainline Monster Hunter will be released on Switch NG yes”
As always, NecroFelipe can’t substantiate this rumor, because of the nature of rumors having sources that can be compromised if they are outed in any way. So, we can’t vouch for this rumor being real ourselves.
We mainly have to rely on NecroFelipe being a credible source for rumors. To his credit, his rumors and leaks are getting attention because he does have a good track record. Whatever source of information he has, out there in Brazil, seems to be insecure enough that he can get away with sharing a lot more than other rumormongerers or leakers.
It also has to be said, the rumor is credible, because of Monster Hunter’s own history with Nintendo, aside from the immediate precedent.
While Monster Hunter started out on PlayStation, when Capcom signed up the franchise to be a Nintendo licensed game, that started the franchise’s ascent to popularity.
The first breakout title under this arrangement was Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii. Monster Hunter Tri would accumulate 1.9 million units sold on the platform, and receive ports on the Wii U and 3DS. Subsequent 3DS games in the series, Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter 4, popularized online and local multiplayer for the series, in spite of the limitations of the 3DS.
Capcom than made a very interesting series of decisions. They negotiated with Nintendo to make a new game that would not be coming to their platforms. Monster Hunter World, released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, would become the series’ most successful incarnation to date, and the highest selling game in Capcom’s history. This game leveraged the power of the eight generation of consoles and seemed to indicate a future of cutting edge Monster Hunter games.
And then Capcom went back to Nintendo, with everything they learned from Monster Hunter World, to make Monster Hunter Rise, launching as a Nintendo Switch exclusive before eventually making its way to other platforms.
Monster Hunter Rise and its expansions released on Nintendo before other platforms, and the next Monster Hunter game is likely to follow this pattern as well. Capcom probably also already has the Switch 2 dev kits to make this game. And if the rumors are true, they are leveraging DLSS and other technologies to make a Monster Hunter game for the Switch 2 that won’t be that far off from what it will look like on other platforms.
It’s all very fun to speculate on, but that’s the extent of what we can do for now. If this all turns out to be true, Monster Hunter on the Switch 2 will be a highlight for that console’s launch lineup, and will probably be a very strong system seller.
