Monster Hunter World Iceborne 2020 Roadmap Unveiled

Even with a major release on the horizon and likely a few incredible irons in the fire, Capcom has revealed that there is no sign of slowing the momentum around their most successful release ever, Monster Hunter World. Last year, Hunters were given a hefty expansion in Iceborne with lots of free updates throughout including exciting new monsters like Final Fantasy’s Behemoth and the Deviljho, as well as lots of items to craft and collect. Following a celebration of the franchise, the Monster Hunter Festa, Capcom has shared a handy graphic with lots of information to parse and there are a few points that are particularly interesting. 

The Iceborne expansion just recently came to Steam and while the initial launch had some hiccups it appears that things are back on track. Title updates for the Steam version will start to come in during February with things like new monsters, expanded features, events, and more. This is all content that console players have already been enjoying, so updates such as the Super Saiyan-like Rajang, the Resident Evil 2 collaboration items and quest, and such will all be cycled for PC players. 

For console players, hunters will be getting new limited-time events quests that make it so that gold crown monsters, decorations, and Great Spiritvein Gems will spawn more often. A major title update in March will also bring two variant monsters to the roster which could include Furious Rajang, a notoriously challenging monster for longtime players. 

Updates will start to sync up between the console and PC versions in late April, early May. This means that both communities can take on the same challenges without that stagger that has kept PC players behind the excitement. This update will include new Arch-Tempered and Master Rank hunts to keep hunters sharp. 

I also like to believe that when updates start to sync, we will see cross-save and maybe crossplay added to Monster Hunter World, which would follow in the footsteps of Destiny 2 which now has cross-save functionality, and a more direct competitor Dauntless which has had crossplay for quite a while. Dauntless also has the advantage of being available on the Nintendo Switch. I’m curious if Capcom has any plans to bring MHW to Switch; Iron Galaxy showed interest when the game was initially released and it seems like the perfect challenge for the wizards at Panic Button Games who were able to keep the speed of Warframe intact when it was ported to Switch. 

While there’s not much of a reason for me to think this feature is on the way, aside from hopes and a gut feeling, this is the exact feature that would force me into the PC play space and it seems like a logical update. I’ve put over 300 hours into the PS4 version of Monster Hunter World, so starting a PC file when it first came out meant that all of my progress was kind of wasted since PS4 is where I mainly play. I’ve even considered purchasing a third copy for Xbox One, specifically to play with a few friends on that platform. 

I just love Monster Hunter that much. . . 

Crossplay would mean more hunters to adventure with and it seems like a feature worth pursuing for Capcom. If we don’t see this drop in May, then I would assume it would be added by the end of the year. That would also likely see some sort of PS5 or Xbox upgrades too, just in time for the holiday season. If not in Monster Hunter World, then this is a feature I would hope to see in the next entry for the franchise. 

Come May, Monster Hunter World players are getting a major update with the return of a “fan-favorite” monster. For me, I would most want to see Gore-Magala, the flagship monster of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. This creature would be perfect since it has a unique aura and a flashy transformation. We could also see the return of Gammoth, the mammoth flagship of Monster Hunter Generations, who would fit perfectly into the aesthetics of the Hoarfrost Reach. Of course, Capcom could add Astelos or Mizutsune since all four Generations flagships were popular. Many players have also kept up the discussion around Fatalis which is supported by those datamining the PC release.  

Beyond May, Capcom has stated that they are planning for even more monsters. In these updates, I hope to see another crossover creature, similar to what was done with the Behemoth, or something entirely new. A crossover with Godzilla vs Kong sometime around November also seems likely, even if it’s just a special quest featuring Deviljho and Rajang.

Regardless of what is added, it looks like Monster Hunter World will continue to be my most played game. 

Overall, I am super excited about Capcom’s developments. Resident Evil 3 is a must-play for me and I really hope to see crossplay (at the very least cross saves) come to Monster Hunter World. We are also getting Resident Evil Resistance, the Dead by Daylight style multiplayer game that’s being packed in with RE3, and I’m interested to see how that community develops. For the retro side, Capcom is releasing the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection on February 25th and while I find those GBA classics to be a bit too challenging, I am pumped to have another way to play classic Mega Man. Lastly, there was a recent call for RE Ambassadors to keep an eye out for testing opportunities of an unannounced game and I think that will either be the next mainline Resident Evil title or a remake of Dino Crisis. I would personally be ecstatic for either title. 

With the huge financial success of their last few releases, I am also ready to see what new ideas Capcom can bring to players. 

For the latest on Monster Hunter World check out the official website.