Philippe Cardone, CEO of PlayStation France, has said the a PlayStation Vita installment of Capcom's wildly popular Monster Hunter franchise is expected in the next few months.
"The games available at launch in Japan do not correspond to the typology of the Japanese public. It lacks a particular game, Monster Hunter, scheduled for the coming months," said the Sony man.
This month Vita sales fell 57 percent week-over-week, dropping below 20,000 units and placing it fourth in the hardware rankings. Since launch, weekly Vita sales have come in at 324,859 units, 72,479, 42,648, 42,915 and now 18,361.
When quizzed on the decline Cardone said "the games available at launch in Japan do not correspond to the typology of the Japanese public," specifically calling out the lack of a Monster Hunter title and providing an assurance that the European launch would be better suited to tastes.
"Had it been there right out in Japan, the story would have been different. The game console at launch will be the European better than it was for Japan."
Cardone has also said Sony isn't under pressure to announce the PS4 and 'will probably be last to announce something'.
Comments
19 comments so far...
DavidVM on 30 Jan '12 said:
And thus the Vita was saved. Much like a Nintendo system without a Mario or Zelda game, there is no point in a Sony handheld without Monster Hunter.
KrisaimUK on 30 Jan '12 said:
Really?
Anyone with half a brain knows this . I have had my Vita for nealy a month. It's brilliant. You'll see.
cult on 30 Jan '12 said:
Is this really the game saver it is supposed to be?
Cannot wait to see the sales figures for this.
KrisaimUK on 30 Jan '12 said:
Did you never see the PSP sales?
"covering December 1 through December 5, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd sold 2,146,467 units. The game also gave a huge boost to PSP hardware sales. Over the week, PSP sold 326,639 hardware units, 4.31 times more than previous week"
Sales like that when PSP has been out years.
They should have had the boxed version of HM on the shelf, sure it's in the store but they need it on show in the shops. I've seen the difference between the PSP one and Vita, it looks so much better on Vita.
JBoo on 30 Jan '12 said:
EXCELLENT News for the PSVita this
Watch the internet haters CRY when this 'WILL' boost PSVita sales 'BIG TIME' in Japan LOL;)
ricflair on 30 Jan '12 said:
I wouldn't put my trust in Google translate to be accurate, he could have meant that they've missed out on not having Monster Hunter in the coming months as he doesn't say, "which will be out in the coming months"
I'm sure Monster Hunter will come, unless Nintendo paid Capcom a king's ransom.
Izo on 30 Jan '12 said:
He's talking about Monster Hunter Portable 3rd the PSP game which also has a PS3 and Vita version and has yet to launch in the west hence why he's talking about it being present at launch.
Bryanee1983 on 30 Jan '12 said:
No offence to the CEO of Playstation France but I doubt he'd know anything of a new MH title. Wait for Capcom to announce something before getting excited.
lordirongut on 30 Jan '12 said:
So it is going to be Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD? The only thing I've heard about that was that highly questionable pamphlet. Ah well, if true then the Vita's success is basically guaranteed, at least in the Far East. I always said that Capcom would like a slice of both pies, and it looks like I've been proven right.
Although I do wonder if we'll ever get an English version.
Izo on 30 Jan '12 said:
It's already available in Japan on Vita Iron it has been since launch.
lordirongut on 30 Jan '12 said:
Wasn't that just the PSP version through backwards compatibility, though? I never saw anything about getting a dedicated Vita version, and I've followed the Vita since it was announced. This is one thing I'd love to be proved wrong on, though.
KrisaimUK on 30 Jan '12 said:
True, a PSP port. They need to HD this and get it on the shelves. Saying that, have you seen the Vita version next to the PSP 3000 version? Blows it away.
A bit of a re release with some new areas and extra polish will have fans in Japan running to the game shops, and Sony know it. They need to give Capcom some cash me thinks.
MD1500 on 30 Jan '12 said:
Remember, in order to get 2 MHs on their system, Nintendo had to make that ugly second stick...
ste hicky on 30 Jan '12 said:
....and a nice chunk of their money. Let's not forget that.
Izo on 30 Jan '12 said:
The's a port of it on Vita not just through BC.
@ KrisaimUK
I don't know about that, the problem with games like MH and DQ is that they sell to their userbase with in the first few weeks, 3rd has sold 4.7m already in Japan so those who want it already own it they'll need to do something like release an extended version for Vita, 3rd G, remember that many still have yet to buy Vita due to price.
lordirongut on 30 Jan '12 said:
Are you sure, Izo? I've been looking it up but everywhere has it listed as PS3 and PSP. All the gameplay vids are of it running through BC as well.
damoxuk on 30 Jan '12 said:
Ah so Sony have got there chequebooks out and said to capcom - gief Monster Hunter nowwww.
Izo on 30 Jan '12 said:
Pretty sure it's out but as a download game as it's a direct port, the game in the BC version is the same game only you get a discount, the rumors in Japan is that 3rdG will surface in Japan in the coming months for retail so the's no point putting the PSP port on shelves.
SpandexArmstrong on 31 Jan '12 said:
I just don't see it happening. Monster Hunter 4 is already in development as a 3DS exclusive.
As Al Bundy once said "Never trust the french!"