Monster Hunter: World got off to an enormous start last weekend, setting a new three-day sales record for the franchise with one platform port still in development. And Capcom already decided on a plan to repurpose some of those profits … and it might be one of the best marketing ideas the games industry has ever produced.
According to Capcom, more than 5 million copies of Monster Hunter: World have already been shipped to retail, a staggering figure for a franchise that lived and died almost exclusively on portable devices since its inception as a PS2 title. That pushes total sales for the franchise north of 45 million units and the renewed interest has apparently given the company incentive to push the game even harder. Capcom hopes to cut a deal for a Monster Hunter motion picture and will continue to promote its new attraction at Universal Studios Japan.
This year’s Monster Hunter celebrations will also include one of the weirdest, most unique and downright hilarious promotions we’ve ever seen from the games industry. Capcom is offering a £50,000 (~$70K) reward to anyone who can provide evidence of an actual monster. Yes, like Bigfoot, the Chupacabra or Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness Monster. Interested parties have until June 30 to submit their proof to cryptozoologist Jon Downes, Director of The Centre for Fortean Zoology. If Downes and his team confirm it to be real -- because I guess technically they have to pretend that’s a possibility, since this is a contest(?) -- Capcom will pay the bounty.
Bigfoot
Scottish lake monster (Loch Ness Monster)
Mongolian Death Worm
Mermaid
Earth Hound
Yeti/Almasty
Chupacabras
The flying snake of Namibia
Yowie
Cornish Owlman
And yes, it has to be proof of one of these ten creatures. Downes & Co. don’t want your stupid lizard people scales or vampire fangs. They only want the real make believe stuff. Obviously.
For more on Monster Hunter: World , check out our ongoing coverage of the Capcom’s latest action RPG, including our trips and tricks for new Monster Hunter players and a quick guide to mounting creatures in MHW . We’ve also got a multiplayer explainer for anyone struggling to make heads or tails of the game’s less-than-intuitive lobby and party systems.
Monster Hunter: World is out now on PS4 and Xbox One. The game hits PC this fall.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more Monster Hunter: World news in 2018 and however long Capcom supports MHW in the months ahead.
