A new 20-minute developer diary, trailer, and screenshots have been released by Capcom for its upcoming Iceborne expansion for action role-playing game Monster Hunter: World. A number of monster subspecies, the new gathering hub, and more details were revealed.
First off, the subspecies monsters are the latest additions in the Iceborne roster. These subspecies come with extreme, twisted variations that amp up the difficulty and require master-level hunting skills to conquer. The latest trailer gave us a glance at just two out of the many ferocious variants that are soon to come: the electrifying brute wyvern Fulgur Anjanath, which channels lightning, and the fanged wyvern Ebony Odogaron, which comes with a wider and more dangerous attack range and dragon elemental. In addition, the fiery Glavenus was also seen using its trademark sweep attack and recognizable roar.
In addition, flexibility has been added for multiplayer hunting parties. A series-first scaling balanced difficulty, which will adapt for a two-player team if others have dropped out, or if a duo sets out to tackle a quest with their Palicoes in tow. These furry sidekicks will also get upgraded gadgets and new options such as the Shieldspire Stooge, which is a mobile decoy that draws a monster’s attention away from the player. There's also a Meowcano, a giant jar that shoots out fireballs at enemies, and an enhanced Vigorwasp that can revive players immediately back into battle if they faint.
New Squad Cards featuring info on the respective team can also be sent out to invite others to join your group, which works similarly to Guild Cards for each hunter and can be traded individually. Sub-leaders have also been added for squad teams and can share duties for recruiting and accepting team requests.
Overall, the Iceborne expansion is looking like a great addition to the base game of Monster Hunter World. This is keeping in line with Capcom’s seemingly long-term plan for the series, which begins with World and an upcoming plethora of more content.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is scheduled for September 6 release for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A PC release is set to follow this coming winter.
