The wait is over and it’s time to join the hunt! Monster Hunter Rise is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Game Pass, PlayStation® 5, and PlayStation® 4!
Check out our launch trailer for a quick look at the action that awaits, plus some of what’s included in the newly released versions!
A quick refresher on Monster Hunter Rise – this entry in the acclaimed series infuses the series’ signature gameplay with acrobatic new abilities. The 14 signature weapons of Monster Hunter are back of course, with new unique weapon actions and the “Switch Skill Swap” ability to greatly expand your options in battle.
We hope you enjoy the Japanese-inspired lineup of unique monsters, environments, music, and many other surprises and discoveries as you begin your hunting journey!
Delivery Incoming!
New to Monster Hunter or just looking for a bit of support as you get your bearings? The Guild Cross armor series and Legacy Talisman give you high defense and useful skills to make your way through the early quests.
We’re also giving everyone some helpful in-game items with the Launch Celebration: Special Pack 1. Grab 50 Mega Potions, 30 Well-done Steak, 30 Lifepowder, and 10 Mega Barrel Bombs to get you going!
Last but not least, thanks to the efforts of the community for smashing the #MHhoneynewyear retweet goal, we’re giving everyone two welcome packs with plenty of Honey and Max Potions!
All of these items can be received via Senri the Mailman on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Game Pass, PS5, and PS4, so be sure to grab them!
A Huge Pack of Event Quests!
Monster Hunter Rise includes a huge amount of Event Quests that feature special rewards, ranging from layered armor, stamps, gestures, titles, and more. Some Event Quest feature collaborations with other series, including Street Fighter, Okami, and Mega Man!
Also, some of these quests have rank requirements, so be sure to keep raising your Hunter Rank so you can check them out.
Filtering In…
As seen above in the launch trailer, you can take advantage of different filters to bring a different atmosphere to your hunts. Filters like Sepia, Black & White, Warring Lands-style, and more can be applied to the entire screen, and some also alter the game’s audio as well.
Happy Hunting!
That’s all for now! We hope you enjoy your hunts in Monster Hunter Rise.
Be sure to stay up to date with all things Monster Hunter by following the official Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Hello everyone! Koichi Shibata here, reporting from the Monster Hunter Rise dev floor!
For our next round of Monster Hunter Rise interviews, I’ll be talking to Sakata-san and Hashimoto-san, who designed the weapons and armor you can create using Malzeno’s materials!
A Valstrax icon made by Sakata-san, An Espinas drawing made by Hashimoto-san
Weapons:
Q1: All of Malzeno’s weapons have a sort of metallic look with characteristic red crystals. Did you have a particular motif or theme in mind when you designed them?
A1. Sakata-san:
Yes, the concept for Malzeno was “weapons that draw energy from congealed crystals.”
I’ll get to the congealed crystals later, so let me start by commenting on the shapes of the weapons themselves.
We were very particular about using beautiful curves for the weapons, to give them a general Westernized appearance. We also made proactive use of its three-pronged tail in the designs.
There are several reasons for this: in addition to giving each individual part a unique shape, it also creates some “openings” in the silhouette.
I’m going to have to get a bit technical here, but if you create openings in a silhouette, that means the weapon ends up looking lighter when compared to silhouettes without openings.
After checking with the design team, they agreed that this also matched Malzeno’s image, so we collectively decided to use three-pronged protrusions in a variety of ways for all of Malzeno’s weapons.
For blade-type weapons, this lends it a nice, sharp image, fit for severing. For long-range weapons like the bow, this allowed us to represent the tensile strength of the materials.
Q2: Which parts of Malzeno (like its claws or its horns, etc.) are these weapons made of?
A2: Sakata-san:
They’re made of Malzeno’s claws, which are its primary weapon, and the three spikes at the end of its tail.
In the early design stages, some of the artists wanted to include a red membrane as well, but we ended up not using that idea, in order to make the red color of the congealed crystals stand out more.
Armor:
Q3: The series has had equipment based on Western-style armor before, so how did you go about to make sure the Malzeno series stands out from the rest?
A3: Hashimoto-san:
For the Malzeno series, we based the design on Western armor motifs, to create contrast with the Japanese designs of Monster Hunter Rise, and then we added a “vampiric” element to it, to represent the monster. We did this by adding a cape with a stand-up collar, using red membrane, to an armor set made of Malzeno’s silvery white carapace. We also looked at tailcoats and the jabots (the frilly things) around the neck of aristocratic clothing, to represent Malzeno’s noble appearance.
We then added some red in between the individual carapace parts, and gave the decorations on the hands and feet the same shape as the monster to make sure that it didn’t just look like regular old Western armor.
It’s basically a sort of “Vampire Knight” motif, but since this is the equipment for the flagship monster, we used heroic colors like white and red, and tried to keep elements of “evil” and “night” to a minimum.
The Malzeno armor series & great sword
Q4: What kind of differences are there between Type 1 and Type 2?
A3: Hashimoto-san: Both of them are Western armor first and foremost, but Type 1 is a bit more orthodox, whereas Type 2 was made for players who want a bit more of a vampiric element to their armor.
■ Type 1 We wanted to establish a clear image of “Western-style armor”, so we gave it a full-face helmet, big round shoulder pads, and a chest plate. By adding a big cape on the back, we gave it a more stylish look, while also giving some grandeur to the silhouette.
■ Type 2 This one uses a circlet, so the face is visible. Type 1 has a big silhouette for the upper body, so for Type 2, we added some volume to the lower body by creating a Western dress silhouette.
Weapons & Armor:
Q5: Malzeno is known for becoming extra violent once it absorbs a certain amount of life force, so how did you incorporate this element into the designs of the weapons and armor?
A5: Sakata-san:
As I mentioned before, the concept for Malzeno’s weapons was “drawing energy from congealed crystals,” so we incorporated an effect where a red line runs along your weapon when you sheathe it, as if the energy flowing from the crystals is running through the grooves etched into the weapon itself.
At first glance, they look like pretty silver-and-gold weapons, but once you sheathe them, there’s kind of an evil aura to them. This also ties into the duality of Malzeno itself.
We also made a point of placing the crystals on the parts that form the openings I mentioned for Q1.
Hashimoto-san:
I incorporated several design elements, like red holes between the armor’s carapace for storing life force, and red slits that serve as passageways for that energy. However, the motif for the Malzeno armor series is based on Malzeno in its regular state. When it becomes more violent, it changes its form, and this form was used for the design of the “Formal Dragon” armor series which can be unlocked with an amiibo. It’s even more vampire-like than the regular Malzeno armor series.
Q6: What kind of themes did you use for the Buddy weapons and armor?
A6: Sakata-san:
Since Malzeno is the flagship monster, we tried to come up with a design that would be appealing to a wide variety of players. I think we managed to create something that looks worthy of Buddy armor based on the flagship monster.
Felyne MalzenoCanyne Malzeno “I especially like the weapon on the Palico’s back.”
If you look closely, it has tiny cat ears at the top of the handle. Did you notice this?
I can’t go into too much detail, but every piece of equipment in the game was designed using all of the designers’ knowledge of the game. It’s really worth it to sit down and have a close look at them when you’re taking a break between hunts.
Felyne weaponCanyne weapon
– Closing Comment from Shibata:
Thank you, Sakata-san and Hashimoto-san!
It’s very interesting to know that the weapons and armor made with Malzeno’s materials were created to match the concept and ecology of this flagship monster. Like the monster itself, this equipment is unique and detailed, and really fits the world of Monster Hunter, even if it’s based on a vampire. You can really feel the passion of the designers!
Next time, I’ll be talking to the environment leader, Yuya Endo, about the design of the locales!
The culmination of 19 online premiers, one offline event, an LCQ and 156 World Warrior events, CAPCOM CUP IX is the epic conclusion of one of the most hard-fought Street Fighter V: Champion Edition seasons in the history of Capcom Pro Tour.
Not to be outshone, the Street Fighter League: World Championship returns to CAPCOM CUP after a thrilling season. The campions of all three leagues (Street Fighter League: Pro-JP 2022 , Street Fighter League: Pro-US 2022 and Street Fighter League: Pro-EUROPE 2022) will compete in a grueling season-ender.
Come watch the greatest Street Fighter players in the world as we crown champions for the Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League 2022 seasons. The event will be held at AVALON Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, USA from February 14 through 19. To purchase tickets visit https://capcom.us/cuptickets.
Immediately prior to CAPCOM CUP, The Last Chance Qualifier will take place in Burbank, CA on February 12 and 13. The winner of this 256-player tournament will be awarded the final 47th spot in CAPCOM CUP IX!
The total prize pool for CAPCOM CUP IX is $300,000. Prize pool for the Street Fighter League: World Championship is $150,000.
NOTE: All LCQ competitors will receive a free general admission ticket to Capcom Cup as long as they participate in the tournament. To register for the LCQ visit https://capcom.us/LCQ,
Battle routine, set! Execute!! Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is now available for pre-order! Launching April 14th, this collection brings all ten mainline games to modern platforms with online versus, Battle Chip trading, and even Download Chips previously only available in Japan!
Just ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Mega Man franchise, the famous Director for the Battle Network series, Masakazu Eguchi, is here to share some new information about the upcoming collection. Check out the video below for more details, and read on for additional info about all the extra features that are being added alongside online play!
Did you get all that? There’s a lot to cover, but for those of you who have fond memories of participating in NetBattles, trading Battle Chips, swapping Styles, and exchanging Navi Customizer Programs, you’ll be happy to know that you can do all of these things online as well!
Both Public and Private rooms are available, allowing you to NetBattle and trade with others the world over, or just with a few friends. You can even NetBattle in ranked matches to show off your skills!
Hold on… my PET is telling me I have a new eMail. It’s a good thing I don’t have to go to my PC to read it! Let’s see… oh, it’s a message from Ucchi from Rockman Unity! He has a few things he wanted to tell you about this collection. I’ll let him take it away from here!
***
About the Retail Version of Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection
To start with, the retail package version contains two games, Volume 1 and Volume 2, on a single game card or disc. If all ten titles were combined into one package for the retail release, they’d be recognized as different games from the individual volumes. This would affect online functions, so it was necessary to keep the retail releases as Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
In addition to a collection with all ten games included in one package, we wanted to make a more affordable offering by splitting the games across two volumes while still having a version available for those who enjoy maintaining a collection.
Technical Fixes and Adjustments from the Original Releases
The games included in this collection are based on the Japanese versions of each game, and the code had to be re-written as a result. So, for this collection, the English versions will have content equivalent to the Japanese versions of each game. Of course, the development team also made some adjustments that have been implemented! Director Eguchi shared some notes about the music that plays after you reach the ending of Mega Man Battle Network 6:
“After finishing the game, when you select the ‘Continue’ option, the tense music from the game’s ending kept playing. We’ve corrected this so that when you continue immediately after finishing the game, the normal music is played instead.”
Apparently, Mr. Eguchi forgot to include instructions for the corresponding song to start playing when you started the game again.
Your Own Personal PET
Staff members from the Mega Man Star Force series and Mega Man 11 helped create the 3D MegaMan.EXE model! Plus, he’ll be able to don the special “Hub Style” skin in Vol. 1, and the “Dark MegaMan” skin in Vol. 2 if you pre-order retail or digital versions of the game. You can switch them on and off via the main menu screen.
Although these skins can be switched on and off, they just change the way he looks, and the voice lines that you’ll hear are mostly the same as his normal voice. These special skins don’t have any effect on MegaMan’s appearance during gameplay, so feel free to turn them on and off whenever you want!
Download Chips
Download Chips – unique Battle Network chips for certain games that were previously only available at special events in Japan – will also be included! All Download Chips available for the original versions will be available in this collection, as well. While you can add Download Chips to your folder and use them as many times as you like, just like any other Battle Chip, you’ll only be able to download them once per save file. Don’t go losing them! Speaking of exclusive chips…
The Z Saber
This chip had a very unique way of being obtained in the original Mega Man Battle Network 4. Because of that, the chip could also be obtained via a lotto number at Higgsby’s shop. This number was never made public, but was recently discovered. The Z Saber chip will still be available in the Legacy Collection version of Mega Man Battle Network 4 as well.
Online Custom Screen Time-out
During online battles, the Custom Screen is set to close after 20 seconds. This is to avoid both players from staying on this screen for too long as they select their Battle Chips for the next round. Note that the exact time is still being adjusted, so this might change!
The TreeBomb Prism
The infamous TreeBomb Prism combo from Mega Man Battle Network 2 is still intact in single-player. As powerful as it is, it’s been left as-is to respect the memories of those of you who played these games in their original form. However, when it comes to online game modes, the prism has been adjusted to work more like it does in Mega Man Battle Network 3 for overall game balance purposes.
***
Thanks for all that extra info, Ucchy! As you can see, the team working on Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is giving their all to create a game that will live up to the series’ history. That’s not all, though; they’ve even included the previously Japan-only Download Chips so that Operators around the world can enjoy these unique additions to gameplay.
In addition to all of the above, pre-orders of Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection will get some additional bonuses (at participating retailers). As Ucchi mentioned, additional skins for the 3D MegaMan.EXE in the launcher are included as pre-order bonuses, and two extra music tracks for the in-game Music Player are available for each volume of the collection.
We hope you enjoyed this new look at what’s on the way for Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection! We’ll have lots more to share about the game leading up to its launch on April 14th, 2023, so be sure to follow the Mega Man Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for all the latest news.
Street Fighter 6 is officially launching on June 2, 2023 and is available for pre-order today! Get ready to learn more about the single-player immersive mode, World Tour, along with four more characters from the international roster.
Expand Your World Tour
We previously revealed more information on World Tour a few months ago, but we’re ready to update your itinerary with another look. As magnificent as the bustling Metro City is, your travels will take you all around the world to glimpses of Jamaica, Italy, and France.
You will learn Special Moves from these Masters to incorporate into your avatar’s custom move set. You can also mix and match Special Moves from different Masters, meaning your avatar can throw out a Hadoken, a Sonic Boom, perform a Spinning Bird Kick, and a Yoga Flame, all in the same match as long as they’re using different inputs.
In their infinite wisdom – or chaos, depending on the character – the Masters won’t leave you alone on the streets. You can fight alongside a Master like Ryu by calling upon them in battle with Master Assist. They will then join the fray and help you for a period of time.
World Tour contains a host of minigames you can play in between matches in the form of part-time jobs where you can earn World Tour currency. Karate-chop bottles, enjoy Italian cuisine, parry basketballs, and more to further immerse yourselves.
Four International Characters
First appearing in Super Street Fighter II, Dee Jay is a globally popular dance music superstar who is always ready to have a good time. With a burning love for music and fighting, this Jamaican sensation drives audiences wild with hot new songs and stylish moves.
As a returning character in the series, Dee Jay retains his trademark moves that will get you in the rhythm such as Air Slasher, Double Rolling Sobat, Machine Gun Upper, and Jackknife Maximum. His new move Jus Cool is a retreating sway that can lead into kicking attacks or forward-moving maneuvers that will test his opponent’s tempo.
A super model and world champion judoka, Manon is an idealist, forever seeking self-improvement in the pursuit of beauty. She struts the catwalk of street fighting to become the world’s strongest model.
Manon’s move set is a graceful union between judo grappling and classical ballet. The elegant Manège Doré and Renversé are grabs that will increase Manon’s medal level upon successful completion. The higher her medal level, the more each grab’s properties will change.
Marisa is an up-and-coming jewelry designer from Italy who claims ancestry to ancient Greek warriors. As a child, she was inspired by a vision of the Colosseum in its prime. Today, she seeks glory with a smile—and an eye for beauty.
A powerhouse of a character, Marisa utilizes her long limbs to unleash slow yet gargantuan strikes. Marisa can use Gladius, a devastating straight punch that can be wound up for extra damage. Scutum is a defensive stance that gives her upper body armor and counters an opponent’s attack. Use Quadriga, a powerful front kick to show opponents that “This. Is. Marisa!”
JP is the head of an international NGO responsible for many successful investment projects, and the man behind Nayshall’s present prosperity. He has a beloved cat named Cybele.
JP takes control of the entire map from all angles. He uses Departure, placing a void of power in the air, which can then be turned into thorns or can be used to teleport him to its location. JP can also send out clones from across the screen with Torbalan or Embrace to keep his opponents in check.
Choose Your Edition
Pre-orders for Street Fighter 6 are available today with some knockout incentives. You’ll receive Color 10 for Chun-Li, Jamie, Manon, Dee Jay, Juri, and Ken’s Outfit 1. PS5 and PS4 players will also receive 18 in-game Special Titles and 18 Stickers featuring unique art from the launch roster to personalize your profile.
If you’re wondering which edition to pre-order, here’s a quick guide. The first is the Standard Edition, which includes Fighting Ground, World Tour, Battle Hub, and the 18-character launch roster, and will cost USD $59.99.
The Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the Year 1 Character Pass, which contains four characters, colors 3-10 for each of those characters’ Outfit 1, and a bonus of 4,200 Drive Tickets for in-game purchases. The Deluxe Edition is USD $84.99, offering a discount over getting the full game and Year 1 Character Pass separately. Stay tuned for more information on the four Year 1 characters coming to Street Fighter 6 after launch on June 2, 2023!
The Ultimate Edition is USD $104.99 and contains a whopping amount of content. You’ll get the base game and the Year 1 Ultimate Pass, which contains content from the Year 1 Character Pass, two additional costumes and their alternate colors for the four Year 1 characters, two more stages, and a bonus of 7,700 Drive Tickets.
The RVN6ACK
Finally, we have a treat for Street Fighter V: Champion Edition players! Create a CAPCOM ID and link your platform to receive Super Street Fighter II Turbo to play via the Gallery’s Game Center when Street Fighter 6 launches.
Hunters! Let’s cut to the chase. Monster Hunter Rise is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Game Pass, PlayStation® 5, and PlayStation® 4 on January 20, 2023! The game is up for digital preorder now starting at $39.99 and lets you snag some cute Layered Armor for your buddies.
Let’s break down what you’re getting on the latest generation consoles. On Xbox Series X and PS5™, you’ll be able to choose between 4K resolution and up to 60 FPS, or 1080P resolution with up to 120 FPS. Both platforms also support 3D audio for an even more immersive hunting experience. If that’s not enough, Adaptive Trigger support for the PS5™ DualSense controller adds additional feedback when using Gunner weapons or blocking with a shield.
By the way, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the game at no additional cost. It’s a great way to give the series a try if you’ve been curious, so we’re looking forward to welcoming in many new hunters! If you have Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue the hunt via Xbox Cloud Gaming as well.
The Hunt Continues…
Monster Hunter Rise will launch with all free updates up to Version 10, meaning that it will include monsters and Event Quests that were added to the Nintendo Switch and Steam versions of the game after launch. There are some great collaboration quests with fun rewards, so be sure to check them out!
The massive Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion is coming in Spring 2023 and adds a new main story with plenty of monsters and new Master Rank challenges to take on. So once you’ve climbed to the top of High Rank in the base game, there will be more hunts on the horizon.
About Monster Hunter Rise
For players not familiar with Monster Hunter Rise, this entry in the acclaimed series features a host of new monsters and exciting and fresh additions to the hunting experience. Headlining the group of new monsters inspired by Japanese folklore is the flagship monster, Magnamalo. Plenty of favorites from series history are back as well!
There’s plenty to see and do in Monster Hunter Rise, starting with the game’s main story. Enter Kamura Village and fight back a catastrophic event where hordes of monsters descend upon the village known as the Rampage. You’ll meet plenty of new companions who will support you on your journey, and some you can hunt together with on Rampage Quests.
New features spice up the hunt with an emphasis on fast and fluid movement. Wirebugs are an Endemic Life that you can take advantage of to quickly zip into the air, run on walls, leap away after taking a big hit, and more. They also allow you to use new special maneuvers specific to each of the 14 signature weapons. Another feature enabled by Wirebugs is the ability to temporarily control a monster with Wyvern Riding. If the monster enters a downed state, use this ability to run them into a wall for extra damage or fight other monsters in the area.
The Palamute Canynes can accompany you into the hunt by fighting monsters and acting as a swift mount to get around the locale. Palamutes are a hunter’s best friend and always love getting pets, so don’t leave them hanging. Of course, Palico Felyne companions return as well and you can mix and match between both types, or even double up. The choice is yours!
We’re so excited to welcome all of the new hunters to Kamura and hope you have a great experience discovering everything that awaits. We love to hear from you, so be sure to let us know what you think on the official Monster HunterTwitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Hello everyone! Koichi Shibata here, reporting from the Monster Hunter Rise dev floor! For our next Monster Hunter Rise interview, I’ll be talking to Aehwa Shin, who created and supervised the design for Sunbreak’s flagship monster, Malzeno!
An illustration of Malzeno by Aehwa Shin
Q1: To start off, could you give us a quick explanation of what you worked on for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak?
A1: I continued doing the same work I did on Rise, i.e. being the main monster designer, and I created and supervised the design of the new monsters Malzeno, Lunagaron, Garangolm, and Gaismagorm, as well as the new endemic creatures.
Q2: What were some of the themes you had in mind when you designed the flagship monster Malzeno?
A2: The main theme was “vampire,” and I also gave him characteristics of a “noble baron” and a “knight in silver shining armor.” When we were trying to come up with ways of expressing the “vampire” element, we came up with many designs that were kind of dark and grim, with some looking bat-like, others looking more like a mosquito, and some of them looking very gloomy.
We felt these elements kind of lacked punch for a flagship monster, so when we started thinking about how we could spice it up a little, we came up with the “baron” and “silver armor” themes, while giving it a personality based on key words like “noble” and “cunning.” For its biological motifs, we looked at snakes and raptors, and by giving it a tough exoskeleton, we felt we had managed to give it the power you’d expect from a flagship monster and an elder dragon.
The word “Dracula” originally meant “son of a dragon,” so we actually deliberately gave it some standard dragon features. Also, the area around its eyes looks kind of sunken, which is a reference to the pale faces with dark rings under their eyes you tend to see in the design of vampires. When you see it in motion it’s pretty obvious, but its wings were based on a cape, and the fins on its waist have a tailcoat motif. The Qurio leeching on the area around its neck look like a jabot, and the characteristic fins on its neck call to mind the stand-up collars vampires often have, all in service of giving this monster an air of nobility.
We were also very aware of the contrast we wanted it to have with Magnamalo.
Eastern vs. Western, tiger vs. dragon, samurai vs. knights, dark vs. bright.
The most notable feature of this contrast is its face. We started out with a bat-like design, and we considered laying it on thick by giving it a creepy creature vibe, but we ended up with something more sophisticated. So you’ve got the rugged appearance of Magnamalo on one end, and the sharp, clean-cut features of Malzeno on the other. This doesn’t just go for their motifs and coloring, but for their personalities as well. Magnamalo is wild and brutish, whereas Malzeno is shrewd and elegant. Magnamalo represents strength, Malzeno represents intelligence. We were very thorough in exploring this contrast.
Q3: Malzeno is different from the other monsters in that it manages to function normally in symbiosis with the Qurio. Is there some kind of ecological difference?
A3: This is related to Malzeno’s unique characteristics and its formidable strength. It also ties into the history of the Kingdom and Gaismagorm, so I’ll explain with the help of what Suzuki-san, the Director, has mentioned to me in the past.
Malzeno used to live in harmony with humans, with neither party encroaching on the other party’s territory, but after many centuries, a gigantic hole was opened near Malzeno’s turf by “the lord of the underground” (i.e. Gaismagorm), and lots of Qurio started pouring out, and in the blink of an eye, they started stealing the life force of every creature in the environment. Malzeno looked like it was going to be covered in Qurio and have its energy stolen as well…but before long “antibodies” started to form within Malzeno’s body.
This allowed it to absorb the life force of the Qurio into its own body, creating a symbiotic relationship with these creatures. However, as a trade-off, its latent aggression started showing, and it fell into madness, resulting in it using the Qurio to attack other monsters and absorb their energy, growing ever stronger… This would eventually lead to it going through a morphological change.
Q4: Some of Malzeno’s attacks involve it very suddenly changing position, almost as if it’s able to teleport. How does it do this?
A4: The idea is that it builds up an overwhelming amount of energy in its body, which it then uses to propel itself forward. It derives this energy from the Qurio, and similarly to how it turns darker when it changes shape, it also briefly turns pitch-black when “teleporting.” This ability is also related to the Qurio that have assembled on its chest. It basically uses the energy it absorbs from the Qurio on its chest to propel itself forward.
Malzeno’s movement was designed to contrast with Magnamalo’s movement as well, with Magnamalo “kicking the ground to dash forward” and Malzeno “thrusting forward as if it’s being pushed.”
You could say that Magnamalo’s explosion effects and Malzeno’s wave motion effects are in contrast with each other as well.
――
Q5: Similar to Magnamalo in Rise, Malzeno has a tail with a very unique shape, Why does it look like this, and how does it use its tail to attack? Did you decide on the design with its movements in mind, or were the movements based on its design? How did you communicate with all of the designers involved to coordinate this?
A5: “Did we decide on the design with its movements in mind, or were the movements based on its design?” We absolutely started with the design first. We had an image in mind of it sitting at a long table with a row of candlesticks, elegantly stirring a glass of wine, so we gave its tail a shape that resembles knives and candlesticks.
The animators then created the animations, We had to make sure its movements didn’t come across as too barbaric though. Both its visual design and its animations had to preserve that image of it elegantly stirring a glass of wine.
– Closing Comment from Shibata:
Thank you, Shin-san!
It’s interesting to know that Sunbreak’s flagship monster, Malzeno, wasn’t just based on a vampire, but that it was designed to stand out in contrast with Rise’s flagship monster, Magnamalo.
The more I find out about how Sunbreak’s themes were incorporated into everything from the base and locales to the monsters themselves, the more interesting it gets!
Next time, I’ll be talking to Sakata-san and Hashimoto-san, who designed the weapons and armor you can create using Malzeno’s materials!
Hello everyone! Koichi Shibata here, reporting from the Monster Hunter Rise dev floor!
For our next Monster Hunter Rise interview, I’ll be talking to Daisuke Wakahara, who’s in charge of the cutscenes and monster intros of this game!
Daisuke Wakahara
Q1: To start off, could you give us a quick explanation of what you worked on for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak?
A1: I’m one of the designers on Sunbreak. I’m the leader of the cutscene unit, and I’m in charge of coming up with designs for the various cutscenes and overseeing their production. I also helped out with the direction, even though I wasn’t directly involved in making the cutscenes themselves.
Q2: Could you tell us the general flow for creating a cutscene? And how much time does it take to make one movie?
A2: First, I have to gather information from all members of the dev team, and then determine what kind of cutscenes will be required for the game. From there, I start creating the designs for each cutscene as soon as they’ve been okayed for production. This means I first start by creating a design document, and then I hammer out the details by talking to the cutscene artists, everyone involved with other elements regarding cutscene production, and finally the Director. Once the structure and content of the movie has been decided, the actual production starts. Generally, the production flow is as follows:
As for how long it takes to get from the storyboard to the sound production, well, it depends on the content of the cutscene, but in case of the monster intros for instance, you’re looking at about 6 months for one cutscene (of course, we work on several cutscenes simultaneously).
Q3: You also worked on the monster intros and story cutscenes for the base game Monster Hunter Rise. Could you tell us a bit about the differences in direction between Rise and Sunbreak?
A3: The world in Monster Hunter Rise was themed around Japan and Yōkai, so we made sure the cutscenes matched that theme. From early on, we wanted to make each monster look like a kind of supernatural creature, and I remember having a lot of fun doing research into the various Yōkai stories across the country and throughout history.
Sunbreak, on the other hand, has a very different world from Rise, so we had to change the approach to cutscene production as well. I talked to everyone involved to give the cutscenes more of a Western fable vibe, and to make them sound more like records in a document, which resulted in what you see in the game.
Both Rise and Sunbreak feature narration in the cutscenes, but Rise used a poetic story-telling style, using a unique biwa (lute) played by Tomoyoshi Kakushin, a Satsuma biwa performer, whereas Sunbreak had a more serious and impactful narrational style by Yui Ishikawa in Japanese and Valerie Arem in English. I think both styles offer something great to the series that is worth experiencing. We also did voice over in Monster Hunter language for Rise and Sunbreak, so I highly recommended you check that out in the options menu if you’re interested.
Q4: Is there anything in particular that you always try to keep in mind or that you aim for when waking cutscenes for a game?
A4: As I’m sure everyone is aware, the monsters in Monster Hunter have very detailed ecology settings. These settings offer very valuable information to the player for getting to know the ecosystem surrounding each monster, so we made sure to preserve these settings when designing the monster intros. I talked with all of the people involved to make sure that each movie presents a believable, living, breathing world.
Q6: Do you have any final comments for the fans?
A6: We’ve still got a number of updates coming, and we’re all working hard on exciting new story cutscenes as well, so I hope everyone looks forward to it! We look forward to your continued support of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak!
– Closing Comment from Shibata:
Thank you, Wakahara-san!
Both Rise and Sunbreak have their own unique monster intros that match their world design, and you can listen to them not just in Japanese and English, but in Monster Hunter language as well! You can rewatch monster intros and story cutscenes from the Gallery in your room anytime you want, so it might be interesting to go back and have another look at the movies in Rise.
Next time, I’ll be talking to Aehwa Shin, who created and supervised the design for Sunbreak’s flagship monster Malzeno!
Elevate your survival horror experience. Experience fear in a whole new way with the Shadows of Rose story DLC, Third Person Mode, and The Mercenaries Additional Orders, available now in Resident Evil Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion!
Shadows of Rose
Set 16 years after the events of the main story in Resident Evil Village, this new tale focuses on Rosemary “Rose” Winters as she seeks to rid herself of the strange powers that have plagued her throughout her lifetime. Her journey takes her to the Realm of Consciousness, where she just might get what she wants… assuming she’s able to survive the experience.
The very powers that Rose hopes to rid herself of are the key to her survival in this epilogue to the story of the Winters family. As Rose navigates a twisted world based on terrifying memories, she’ll encounter new creatures along the way… including strange, warped beings that will quite literally try to consume her face. Along the way, a mysterious being that calls themself “Michael” will assist Rose in her adventure, but what else will she find out along the way…? Shadows of Rose is presented completely in the third-person perspective, providing a new vantage point on gameplay.
Third Person Mode
Speaking of the third-person view, the new Third Person Mode included in both Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion allows you to experience the game’s campaign from a new angle. From start to finish, the game can be played in this new optional mode, and you can switch between first-person and third-personwithout fear of losing progress.. Witness Ethan’s struggle to find his kidnapped daughter and face the horrors of the village from an entirely new perspective, complete with additional animations to keep the game’s visceral combat and horror just close enough while still staying at arm’s length.
The Mercenaries Additional Orders
Finally, the arcade-style fun of The Mercenaries has been expanded upon with The Mercenaries Additional Orders! Tear, smash, and punch your way through waves of enemies with Ethan Winters alongside three new additional characters. If you’re feeling a little bolder than usual, Chris Redfield has you covered with automatic weapons and a fearsome right straight punch that can topple enemies with ease. If you need help reaching the top shelf of scores, Lady Dimitrescu can rip through her foes with her claws, unleash one of her daughters to do her dirty work, and, of course, throw ornate vanity to make sure her enemies stay down. Finally, if you’re in it for the mechanics, Karl Heisenberg might just be your pick. Using his magnetic powers, throw scrap at foes, bring the hammer down to make sure enemies won’t get back up, and unleash vicious machines to seal the deal.
Resident Evil Re:Verse
In addition, Resident Evil Re:Verse launches today for all owners of Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition, complete with cross-play! In this online multiplayer game, Resident Evil heroes duke it out in six-player matches where death isn’t the end. When players are taken out, they’ll mutate into infamous mutants and monsters from Resident Evil, with a range powerful attacks that can be used to exact revenge on their opponents.
Additional survivors, creatures, stages, costumes, and challenge missions are planned in future updates, so be sure to give it a shot! A Capcom ID is required to play. You can register for an account here.
More Platforms to Play On
Finally, Resident Evil Village is also now available on Mac, and can also be enjoyed on the Nintendo Switch with Resident Evil Village Cloud. You can try out a demo for Cloud to test your network environment prior to purchasing. In addition, the Winters’ Expansion will be available for the cloud version on Nintendo Switch beginning December 2nd.
No matter how you choose to play, fear still surrounds you with Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion, available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam. Resident Evil Village is also available now for Mac. Resident Evil Village Cloud is available now for Nintendo Switch. Finally, Resident Evil Re:Verse is available now as a free download for all Resident Evil Village owners on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam!
We hope you enjoyed the feast of new info about Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and Resident Evil 4 presented by the Duke! On behalf of our gracious host for today’s Resident Evil Showcase, we’ve prepared all of today’s info for you in bite-sized chunks in case there was anything you might have left on your plate.
The Saga of the Winters Family Comes to a Close
First up, we shared a closer look at Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion launching next week, including an interview with Director Kento Kinoshita.
Starting with Shadows of Rose, this expansion to the story of Resident Evil Village features Rose, 16 years after the events of Village, diving into the Realm of Consciousness that resides in the Megamycete. Playing on the themes of how childhood nightmares can affect us well past childhood, Rose must navigate a twisted version of the village that her father, Ethan, saved her from when she was just a baby. In order to survive, Rose puts her unwanted powers to use in order to hold off all sorts of terrifying creatures, including the newly revealed giant dolls that you may have caught a glimpse of in the showcase.
Shadows of Rose is presented entirely in third person, providing a fresh perspective on the gameplay of Resident Evil Village. Mr. Kinoshita also touched on the new Third Person Mode that will be available for the main campaign of the game, allowing players to choose a brand-new viewpoint from which to experience the game’s events, and shared additional details on The Mercenaries Additional Orders and the new characters that will be coming to this highly replayable, arcade-style mode. Plus, a 60-minute demo will also be available for download starting later today, allowing both new and returning players to try out the new Third Person Mode. (First Person Mode is also available in the demo!)
In addition, the Mac version of Resident Evil Village is planned for release on October 28th, 2022, the same day as Resident Evil Village Cloud for Nintendo Switch. The Winters’ Expansion will come to Resident Evil Village Cloud on December 2nd, 2022, and three additional Resident Evil games will be coming to the Switch via the cloud: Resident Evil 2 Cloud (November 11th), Resident Evil 3 Cloud (November 18th), and Resident Evil 7 biohazard Cloud (December 16th).
Iconic Heroes Clash in Resident Evil Re:Verse
Resident Evil Re:Verse, the multiplayer experience free for all Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition owners, keeps the party going with an early access event beginning Sunday, October 23rd at 7:00 PM PDT through Tuesday, October 25th at 11:00 PM PDT ahead of the game’s launch on October 28th, complete with cross-play across all platforms. Choose from a roster of iconic Resident Evil characters, then engage in high-octane battles where death is not the end, taking on monstrous new forms to take down other players.
Future updates are in the works, including additional Survivors to choose from, new creatures to fight, plus new stages, additional costumes, and extra challenge missions to complete! To enjoy the game, players must register for a Capcom ID and link their account with their platform of choice.
Baby Eagle Has Been Located
Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi joined in on the fun, revealing stunning new details about Resident Evil 4 with both an extended look at gameplay as well as a new story trailer that shines a light on how the development team is introducing modern gameplay techniques and state-of-the-art graphics to recreate the all-time classic while adding depth to the original game’s vision and themes.
Combat in particular has been expanded upon; the terrifying Ganados have become more cunning, using aggressive tactics to overwhelm Leon, chasing him down and even flanking him to attack from all sides. Far from helpless, Leon’s capabilities have been expanded upon with close-combat maneuvers that can allow him to use his knife to parry enemy attacks, deliver finishing blows, and even hold off a chainsaw attack!
Mr. Hirabayashi also discussed how Resident Evil 4 will recreate fan-favorite characters and touch up game mechanics, with an emphasis on player choice in how they approach combat. To that end, the strange but ever-helpful Merchant makes his return with a selection of good things on sale… stranger. Alongside providing new weapons and upgrades – for the right price, of course – the Merchant will also provide rewards to those who are willing to take on a few extra tasks and challenges in the form of gems.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Resident Evil 4 without Leon’s attaché case, which was also featured as part of the Showcase. Just like in the original game, you’ll have a limited number of spots in your case to work with, forcing you to choose what’s most important for survival. Forward-thinking agents can make smart use of the space they have, both carefully organizing their inventories and combining items to mix herbs, craft ammunition, and produce other useful creations that will help Leon on his mission.
Finally, we confirmed that Resident Evil 4 will be coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on March 24th, 2023! In addition to the standard version of the game, a Deluxe Edition and Collector’s Edition were both unveiled. The Deluxe Edition features additional in-game content including additional costumes, weapons, a treasure map, and more, while the Collector’s Edition includes all the contents of the Deluxe Edition plus a Leon figure, a physical map, an art book, and more.
All pre-orders at participating retailers will receive in-game rewards, including the Attaché Case: Gold and Special Charm: Handgun Ammo, while pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition or Collector’s Edition at participating retailers will also include the “Attaché Case: Classic” and “Special Charm: Green Herb” in-game rewards.
That was quite a feast of information, wasn’t it? To review:
Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion launches on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on October 28th, bringing the Winters’ family saga to a close with Shadows of Rose, adding a new viewpoint to the main campaign with Third Person Mode, and adding additional bonus content with The Mercenaries Additional Orders. That same day, the Mac version of Resident Evil Village will also be released alongside Resident Evil Village Cloud for Nintendo Switch, followed by additional cloud releases: Resident Evil 2 Cloud (November 11th), Resident Evil 3 Cloud (November 18th), and Resident Evil 7 biohazard Cloud (December 16th), and the Winters’ Expansion for Resident Evil Village Cloud (December 2nd). A new 60-minute Resident Evil Village demo featuring Third Person Mode from the Winters’ Expansion is also available to try starting today.
Resident Evil Re:Verse begins early access Sunday, October 23rd at 7:00 PM PDT through Tuesday, October 25th at 11:00 PM PDT, and also launches on October 28th with cross-play for all platforms.
Finally, Resident Evil 4 is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on March 24th, 2023. Pre-orders begin today, including a special Collector’s Edition that features a variety of bonuses including a Leon statue.
For all the latest on Resident Evil, keep your eyes on the Resident Evil Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
It’s official, the next Resident Evil Showcase is happening on October 20th at 3:00 PM PDT! Get revved up and ready for new info about Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and Resident Evil 4. Content creators of all types can also join in on the fun by co-streaming the event!
Where to Watch
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/residentevil
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/residentevil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/residentevil
A Fest of Information Awaits
First things first, what can you expect? With the release of Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion just around the corner, we’ll have more information to share about the added content coming to the game, including a fresh look at Shadows of Rose and the terrifying world Ethan’s daughter must survive in order to rid herself of her strange powers.
We know you’re all hungry for more Resident Evil 4, as well. We don’t want to spoil any surprises, and you won’t want to miss what we have in store. Trust us, we’ve got a selection of good things to show you, strangers. Heh heh heh…
An Invitation to Co-Stream the Showcase
We want to share the excitement of this upcoming showcase with all of our fans, and that includes those of you who are streamers, content creators, and members of the Capcom Creators program! We’re inviting anyone and everyone to co-stream the event to your channels and share in the excitement with your communities.
Don’t forget, the Resident Evil Showcase is happening this week on October 20th, starting at 3:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time! We’ll see you there!
It’s been a big month of Monster Hunter news with the release of free Title Update 2. We’re gathering a hunting party and setting out to get into all of the details of the update, and everything else that’s going on in the world of Monster Hunter in September!
Free Title Update 2
Sunbreak Free Title Update 2 is here at last – highlighted by 3 new monsters, the addition of layered weapons, a level cap increase for investigations, and more Qurious Crafting weapon additions. If you haven’t already seen the rundown of new content coming in this update, read the TGS2022 recap blog to get all the details.
This update is sure to expand your endgame options, and we can’t wait to see how you fare against some of the new monsters. Even though Risen Chameleos is the big MR110 challenge that we’re sure experienced Hunters have their eyes on, don’t underestimate the incoming heat from Flaming Espinas and Violet Mizutsune.
In case you missed it, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Director Yoshitake Suzuki also shared some helpful quality-of-life changes as part of the update.
If you’ve maxed out all of your shortcut loadouts and are looking for more, you’re in the luck. The maximum number of loadouts will be increased to eight. He also shared that fixed items like the BBQ Spit and kunai can now be hidden from displaying on your item bar. This should help you cycle through your items in the item bar during your time of need.
For changes to armor, Director Suzuki shared that the level cap on armor is getting an increase – a much needed addition especially with powered up monsters like Risen Chameleos and the increase to the investigations level cap. You can also lock your armor to prevent it from being sold or used in crafting, to give an extra sense of security with your favorite items.
Check the full patch notes for Version 12 here to get all of the details on the changes.
The update is out now on Nintendo Switch and PC/Steam. Be sure to double check that you’ve updated to the latest version of the game!
Things to Watch Out For
Heads up, Hunters. The Version 12 update includes a fix for an error that can occur on Nintendo Switch due to the size of your save file. A second fix will be released in October that will keep your save data from growing too large when registering armor to the “Vaunted Qurious Crafter” page of your Guild Card. Double check the page here if you’ve encountered these issues for updates on how to avoid them.
For PC players, please be aware of potential issues that can arise with modded quests. Since joining quests with unauthorized mods can cause issues, be sure to double check when joining quests that may fall outside of the normal values for quests. These quests won’t cause you to lose your save data and the team is continuing to work on ways to filter these out.
We’re continuing to monitor any issues, so keep on sharing your feedback with us. Thanks to all of our Hunters for your patience and understanding!
The Sounds of Sunbreak
With the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak soundtrack, we gave a big spotlight to the game’s soundtrack. We’ve seen a lot of love for the new themes, like the peaceful tunes you hear in Elgado outpost, and the foreboding organ that marks the battle with Malzeno.
Read our interview with the game’s composers, Satoshi Hori and Mana Ogura, to learn more about their processes and inspiration for creating the soundtrack.
You can also take a look at the video showcasing the making of the soundtrack that was filmed at Abbey Road Studios. It features a few of our favorite songs, including Scarlet Feast – Malzeno and the incredible organ. Check out the video below if you haven’t already seen it (or just give it a rewatch)!
Check out the Sunbreak soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music below!
Each week we’ve released a new Event Quest with rewards for completing them. Read the rundown below of the quests we’ve added and the rewards available, and don’t forget that you can continue to take on these quests any time with no expiration date.
“Flash of Inspiration”
Face-off with a powerful Astalos in an electrifying challenge! Take down this fearsome foe to forge the new elegant Lien layered armor set. This is a fun one for all you Monster Hunter Frontier fans out there!
“Minor Inconveniences”
Aurora Somnacanth and Garangolm stand in your way a challenge featuring two titans. Overcome this challenge to earn the Delightful Pose Set!
“Dual Threat: A Song of Silver and Gold”
Dance with the deadly duo of Gold Rathian and Silver Rathalos in this double trouble Event Quest. Complete this quest and obtain some new special titles!
“Daimyo and Pearls”
Battle a Daimyo Hermitaur and strike for massive damage to complete this quest and acquire items that fetch a fair price! The reward is perfect for getting the extra Zenny you need to complete that perfect armor set or finish that big upgrade for your favorite weapon.
Good luck tackling those Event Quests! We’re continuing to add a new quest each week with new rewards and will be sure to alert you of the latest quest on the official social channels.
Discord Giveaway
In partnership with Discord, we’re giving out codes for the previously announced Fall Fashion Set layered armor DLC. This layered armor was added alongside the latest update and is available for purchase on both Nintendo Switch and PC.
To receive a free code, you’ll need to stream your gameplay using the “Go-Live” function on the PC Discord application. Discord can detect that you’re playing Monster Hunter Rise (or Sunbreak) on PC, so just play while you are screen sharing for at least 30 minutes and you’ll automatically receive a code in your gift inventory on Discord.
This giveaway lasts until October 23rd, 2022. Check out the blog by Discord to help walk through the details of getting setup for streaming.
Tales from the World of Sunbreak
Have you caught our Sunbreak Stories series yet? We’ve been releasing a series of short stories featuring characters from Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, alongside special artwork to accompany each. You might learn a bit more about your favorite characters from Kamura and Elgado by giving these a quick read.
Visit the links below to catch up on the three stories that we’ve released so far, and be on the lookout for more to come in the weeks ahead!
Zenny greetings! We revealed some cool new items apparel and accessories from our partners this month. They’re perfect for showing off your Hunter spirit.
ENDGAME – Monster Hunter Rise accessories and apparel
Monster Milestones!
The month of September marked two milestones for the Monster Hunter series. On September 6, we celebrated the third anniversary of the launch of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. It’s been great seeing everyone share their memories for the game even from the beginning of Monster Hunter World, from taking your first steps in the new world to overcoming the legendary black dragon, and standing tall in Castle Schrade. Whether you’re reflecting on your most memorable hunts, still playing the game today, or coming to it for the first time, we really appreciate the love and support for Monster Hunter World and Iceborne.
On September 21 we celebrated the launch of the very first Monster Hunter game in North America. The game launched on PlayStation 2 a little over six months after the Japanese version, and marked the start of the series’ journey to western audiences.
It’s been a wild ride for Monster Hunter fans over the years and we’re so grateful to the amazing community for helping make the series what it is today. Here’s to many more milestones to come!
Quest Complete!
That wraps up nearly all of the Monster Hunter news from September! The next update for Sunbreak is set to arrive in late November, and we’re looking forward to sharing more on that one soon. Free Title Update 3 will be the last update for the game this year, but we’re far from returning from this quest. Here’s a look at the roadmap again to get your calendars ready for what’s next.
In the meantime, keep on following the Monster Hunter social media channels to stay on top of all the news and conversation in the community.
Thanks again for reading, and we’ll see you in the next one!
