In a short teaser trailer released last week, Capcom has revealed the first large scale expansion for Monster Hunter: World. The new expansion is called Iceborne, and will probably find our favorite fifth fleeters venturing to a new - and much colder - land. Although there's not a lot of information out there so far, Iceborne looks to be releasing in Autumn of 2019, which is way way down the road.
From the short trailer, this definitely looks to be a full-fledged expansion, so returning Hunters will be excited to push into some new content amidst the smaller updates throughout the next year. One thing to note is that the Iceborne expansions release date is specific to Xbox and PS4, so PC players will have to await some news on if and when a PC version is planned for release.
SAN FRANCISCO – Dec. 10, 2018 – Hunters around the globe can prance in joy! Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced Monster Hunter World: Iceborne™, a massive expansion for the highly-acclaimed more than 10 million unit-selling Monster Hunter: World™. The new content will be available for download in autumn 2019 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, with more details on the PC release to be shared in future announcements. The content-rich Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will feature new quest ranks, locales, monsters, moves and gear in addition to a full narrative experience that continues on from the ending of Monster Hunter: World. The Monster Hunter: World base game is required for the expansion and is currently available across consoles and PC. More information on the expansion will be shared next spring. A new teaser trailer offering a sneak peek at the upcoming Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion is available to download from the Capcom press site now.
In addition, there is plenty of exciting content for current players of Monster Hunter: World to look forward to soon. Capcom is working on a special collaboration with CD PROJEKT RED to bring professional monster hunter Geralt from The Witcher® 3: Wild Hunt into the New World early next year. Unique quests will offer a brand-new type of gameplay that blends the immersive RPG experience of The Witcher 3 with Monster Hunter: World. The voice actors for Geralt have also contributed newly recorded dialogue to further enhance this collaboration.
In the meantime, the Kulve Taroth Siege, a special event quest which allows up to 16 players in groups of four each to team up towards a common goal, will return on December 20. This time however, a tougher Arch Tempered version of this colossal monster which yields more powerful rewards awaits hunters. As another special thank you to hunters around the world, to mark a year since Monster Hunter: World launched we’d like to announce The Appreciation Fest, coming up on the anniversary of the game’s release in January 2019. The Appreciation Fest will include a newly decorated Gathering Hub, special equipment that can be obtained in brand new quests and a slew of new anniversary quests for everyone.
For players who have not yet tried Monster Hunter: World, a free Trial Version of the base game will be available on PlayStation®4 system and Xbox One starting tomorrow, December 11 at 4pm PST through December 17 at 3:59pm PST. Offering a hefty preview, the Trial Version allows new players to experience quests up to the 3-star level and online multiplayer up to Hunter Rank 4. This will provide plenty of opportunity to try out a variety of quests, craft and upgrade equipment, and join in on the game’s trademark cooperative multiplayer action with existing owners of the game. In addition, any saved progress transfers over to the main game, so new players are encouraged to start their hunting journey.
In Monster Hunter: World, players take on larger than life monsters in a variety of vast, living, breathing ecosystems either solo or with up to three other hunters via online co-op, complete with drop-in functionality, a first for the series. The story follows the journey of the elder dragons as they begin their once a decade migration across the sea to a land known as the New World in an event referred to by inhabitants as the Elder Crossing. As part of the Guild’s Research Commission, players must embark on a grand journey to this massive, mysterious land and uncover the secrets behind this phenomenon. The Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion will build upon this story when it releases in autumn 2019 for PlayStation®4 system and Xbox One. For all the title updates revealed today, including the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion, Capcom is planning to develop PC versions as well, and will share more on the availability in future announcements.
