{{Short description|2023 mobile game}} {{Use American English|date=September 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox video game | title = Monster Hunter Now | image = Monster Hunter Now logo.png | developer = Niantic<br>Capcom | publisher = Niantic | director = {{Unbulleted list|Tatsuo Nomura<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metahub.info/2023/4606-inside-the-partnership-of-niantic-and-capcom-for-monster-hunter-now-qa-with-the-games-creators|title=Inside the Partnership of Niantic and Capcom for 'Monster Hunter Now': Q&A with the Game's Creators|work=Metahub|language=en|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002105302/https://metahub.info/2023/4606-inside-the-partnership-of-niantic-and-capcom-for-monster-hunter-now-qa-with-the-games-creators/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/23686321/monster-hunter-now-capcom-niantic-pokemon-go|title=Niantic is giving Monster Hunter the Pokémon Go treatment|work=Polygon|language=en|access-date=October 19, 2023}}</ref>}} | series = ''Monster Hunter'' | platforms = iOS, Android | released = September 14, 2023 | genre = Augmented reality, location-based game | modes = }} '''''Monster Hunter Now''''' is a 2023 augmented reality mobile game in the ''Monster Hunter'' series, developed by Niantic and Capcom and published by Niantic for Android and iOS. It was released worldwide on September 14, 2023 and has accumulated 15 million downloads by 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrate 15 million downloads with SPECIAL rewards!|url=https://monsterhunternow.com/en/news/15mbundle|accessdate=2024-08-01}}</ref>
In 2025, ownership of the product was assumed by Scopely as part of a $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic's gaming division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=bio |first=See full |title=Pokemon Go, Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom Sold to Monopoly Go Owner Scopely |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/pokemon-go-monster-hunter-now-and-pikmin-bloom-sold-off-to-monopoly-go-owner-scopely/ |access-date= |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>
==Gameplay== ''Monster Hunter Now'' uses the player's real-life location to place an avatar on the gameplay map, which is divided in-game into different types of terrain. Players can interact with small and large monsters on the map by tapping on them, triggering combat.<ref name="polygon"/> Combat with large monsters is limited to 75 seconds (unlike in mainline ''Monster Hunter'' games, where fights may last up to 50 minutes), while smaller monsters generally require just several seconds to defeat.<ref name="polygon"/><ref name="si"/> Resource nodes are also present in the map, allowing players to collect in-game resources to craft armor or weapons. Purchasable items allow player to temporarily increase their interaction range with the virtual environment.<ref name="si"/> The game contains passive features, providing the player with some resources and marked large monsters for later combat when the game is not active.<ref name="si"/>
On release, the game featured three different types of terrain (forest, swamp, and desert), along with six weapon types and 13 large monsters from the ''Monster Hunter'' series.<ref name="si"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Matthew |title=Monster Hunter Now weapon list and how to unlock new weapon types |url=https://www.polygon.com/monster-hunter-now-guides/23871928/weapon-list-types-unlock |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Polygon |date=13 September 2023}}</ref> The terrain map is refreshed every 24 hours, and available monsters vary depending on the terrain.<ref name="si"/><ref name="eurogamer"/> A health system is present for players, with health regenerating over time or replenished by items which could be obtained daily at no cost or purchased from the in-game store. It also features an augmented reality camera mode.<ref name="pgamer"/>
==Development== Development for ''Monster Hunter Now'' began in 2019, following the opening of Niantic's Tokyo office. Niantic approached Capcom in order to use the ''Monster Hunter'' IP in its games, and received "on the spot" approval by the series' executive producer Ryozo Tsujimoto.<ref name="polygon">{{cite news |last1=Leone |first1=Matt |title=Monster Hunter Now is the most traditional Niantic game yet |url=https://www.polygon.com/23752854/monster-hunter-now-beta-interview |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Polygon |date=9 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="si">{{cite magazine |title=Capcom and Niantic on making a faithful Monster Hunter mobile game |url=https://videogames.si.com/features/monster-hunter-now-overview |access-date=27 September 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=13 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="jtimes">{{cite news |title=New Monster Hunter mobile game supercharges Capcom shares |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/18/business/monster-hunter-mobile/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=The Japan Times |date=18 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Capcom had been looking for opportunities to expand the IP into mobile games when Niantic approached them.<ref name="si"/> According to Niantic CEO John Hanke, improvements in mobile networks since the development of Niantic's prior games such as ''Pokémon Go'' allowed the development team to create faster-paced multiplayer battles.<ref name="polygon"/>
''Monster Hunter Now'' was publicly announced on April 18, 2023, with a closed beta test launching the following week.<ref name="eurogamer">{{cite news |title=Pokémon Go developer announces Monster Hunter Now |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/pokemon-go-developer-announces-monster-hunter-now |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Eurogamer |date=18 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The game was released in early access on August 9, 2023, and in full on September 14 of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sibilla |first=Dillon |date=2023-09-29 |title=Monster Hunter Now 61.1 Update Leaks Explained |url=https://gamerant.com/monster-hunter-now-611-update-leaks-explained-monsters-weapons-halloween/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== According to Niantic, 3 million users had pre-registered for the game by September 11, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monster Hunter Now Reaches 3 Million Pre-Registrations Worldwide |url=https://www.siliconera.com/monster-hunter-now-reaches-3-million-pre-registrations-worldwide/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Siliconera |date=11 September 2023}}</ref> Within a week of release, the game had been installed 5 million times.<ref name="pgamer">{{cite news |last1=Astle |first1=Aaron |title=Monster Hunter Now reaches five million installs in first week |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/82491/monster-hunter-now-reaches-five-million-installs-in-first-week/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=pocketgamer.biz |date=25 September 2023}}</ref> On 19 October, Niantic announced that the game had passed the 10 million downloads mark.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monster Hunter Now Exceeds 10 Million Downloads |url=https://www.siliconera.com/monster-hunter-now-exceeds-10-million-downloads/ |access-date=20 October 2023 |work=Siliconera |date=20 October 2023}}</ref> While it performed better than other Niantic titles such as ''Pikmin Bloom'' (2 million downloads within its first two weeks), it still trailed behind ''Pokémon Go'', which had been downloaded 75 million times within its first two weeks.<ref name="pgamer"/> Financially, both the announcement and release of ''Monster Hunter Now'' were met with surges in Capcom stock prices.<ref name="jtimes"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nussey |first1=Sam |title=Capcom shares climb 6% as investors weigh mobile prospects |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/capcom-shares-lunge-6-monster-hunter-mobile-launch-2023-09-25/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Reuters |date=25 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> ''Pocket Gamer'' reported that the game made USD 14 million in revenue within its first week of release.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rees |first1=Lewis |title=Monster Hunter Now set to be Niantic's third biggest game with $14 million in first month revenue |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/82549/monster-hunter-now-set-to-be-niantics-third-biggest-game-with-14-million-in-first-month-revenue/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |work=pocketgamer.biz |date=2 October 2023}}</ref>
Writing for ''The Verge'', Andrew Webster praised the game's quality-of-life features and fast-paced and challenging combat, but criticized its lack of depth and variety.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=Monster Hunter Now strips the MonHun experience down to its very basics |url=https://www.theverge.com/23870146/monster-hunter-now-review-niantic-iphone-android |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=The Verge |date=14 September 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{Monster Hunter series}} {{Niantic}} {{Portal bar|Video games}} Category:2023 video games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Augmented reality games Category:Fitness games Category:Free-to-play video games Category:IOS games Category:Niantic, Inc. games Category:Location-based games Category:Pervasive games Category:Monster Hunter spinoff games Category:Video games developed in the United States