As Monster Hunter Rise continues to launch content through its Sunbreak expansion, fans wait for word of a potential Monster Hunter World sequel. Monster Hunter World is a landmark entry in the franchise, being the modern installment to take advantage of PC, PS4, and Xbox One hardware to produce flourishing environments that players freely traverse. Monster Hunter World released in 2018, with its Iceborne DLC expansion coming a year later, and fans wonder whether a sequel may ever be announced.
Monster Hunter Rise is a beloved title, particularly due to its release on a handheld platform and Wirebug mechanics adding fluidity to movement and map traversal. Still, many fans believe Monster Hunter Rise was offered to tide them over until the next large-scale spectacle. Indeed, with Monster Hunter World being such an immense undertaking, its sequel will need to meet those expectations. A sequel announcement seems obvious given the franchise’s history, and a case can be made for that new World title happening soon.
Monster Hunter World 2 Could Make the Most Out of Current-Gen Fidelity
The biggest case for a Monster Hunter World 2 is that it could reap the most rewards out of current-gen hardware. Knowing how incredible Monster Hunter World looked at launch, a sequel could eclipse the original’s graphics with the technology present in PS5 and Xbox Series consoles.
Each environment biome in Monster Hunter World 2 could be brimming with sensational lighting, shadow, and detail effects, especially if it is built in the impressive RE Engine like Monster Hunter Rise. Further, while Monster Hunter Rise looks and runs miraculously well as a Nintendo Switch console-exclusive, Capcom’s latest Resident Evil remakes are perfect examples of how remarkable a Monster Hunter World 2 could look on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Graphical fidelity will be great, but some fans may be even more excited about the current-gen potential of decreased load-times. One of the biggest gripes with Monster Hunter World was its load-times, which were irritating when players tried to load into a hunt, or if a hunt failed prematurely, with times in-between padded out using uninteresting loading screens. This issue could be eradicated on current-gen tech, making the potential of a sequel more fulfilling.
Monster Hunter Thrives as a Multigenerational Franchise
It only makes sense that Monster Hunter would have a sequel launch on this generation of hardware, whether it is a numbered sequel to Monster Hunter World or a separate entry like Monster Hunter Rise. The franchise has appeared on myriad platforms throughout multiple console generations, including both mainline and spin-off installments.
Monster Hunter World has pushed over 20 million copies, currently establishing it as the franchise’s best-selling entry by a wide margin. As a result, it would seem nonsensical for Capcom not to pursue a sequel on current-gen systems. Even with Monster Hunter Rise’s PC release, a Monster Hunter World 2 could be current-gen exclusive and outshine anything Monster Hunter has achieved before.
Now would be the perfect time for such a game’s announcement, and the possibilities for how the franchise could evolve are endless, with new weapons, locales, and monsters to consider. Nothing has been rumored or confirmed yet, but the franchise’s most advantageous course of action would likely be to put out a Monster Hunter World sequel in the aftermath of Rise's successful run.
Monster Hunter World is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
