JAPAN: Capcom Announces Monster Hunter Frontier

Among a number of new announcements debuting in Japan today, Capcom revealed that its hit Japanese online action game franchise Monster Hunter will be coming to the Xbox 360 in Japan this summer in the form Monster Hunter Freedom.

According to VG247, the publisher "can't announce" if and when the updated title will be coming to Western audiences -- this version of the franchise originally released in 2007 on PC and PlayStation 2, but has never launched outside Japan.

The grind-centric, multiplayer-friendly franchise has sold millions of copies in Japan, where it's particularly popular on the PlayStation Portable -- but has also recently debuted a Wii version, Monster Hunter Tri, which is confirmed for Western release in April.

In the meantime, consumer weblog Kotaku reports that the title's closed beta will start in May 2010 in Japan. When services begin this summer, users will pay ¥1,400 ($15) a month -- a fee that also includes a monthly Xbox Live Gold membership. This means Monster Hunter: Frontier players become Gold members for free so long as they subscribe to the MMO.

Further on the partnership between Capcom and Microsoft, iconic Gears of War characters Marcus and Dom will appear in the Xbox 360 version of upcoming Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 title Lost Planet 2, which received a May 18 release date today for the U.S. and Europe. According to reports, the company confirmed it also plans to launch Dead Rising 2 this Spring.

Also part of Capcom's official Spring 2010 line-up for the U.S. and Europe are releases for Wii title Monster Hunter Tri in April and Xbox 360/PS3 title Super Street Fighter IV, which will launch in the U.S. and Europe on April 27 and April 30, respectively.

Capcom will also release downloadable Final Fight: Double Impact via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network in April. The game is a dual re-release of classic sidescrolling action titles Final Fight and Magic Sword as part of a single package, and Final Fight heroes Cody and Guy will also appear as playable characters in Super Street Fighter IV.

360-Hq Game Database: Monster Hunter Freedom for Xbox 360
News-Source: www.gamasutra.com