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[L~A]

Capcom has just announced that total shipments for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate have reached 3m worldwide. This includes retail shipments + download card sales + eShop sales.

Unfortunately, they don't tell us how many were sold in Japan / the rest of the World. But based on this thread, that's a around 250k for the western launch?

Monster Hunter shipments outside Japan.

There is a certain margin of error since these are round figures.

Wii Monster Hunter Tri - 750,000
3DS Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - 900,000
3DS Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - 300,000

Better context (for US; retail only)

Monster Hunter 3 first month - 126,000 (12 days tracked)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate first month - 120,000 - 125,000 (19 days tracked)

Source

 

[Card Boy]

Woah. I did my part, wish it was on PS4 though.

 

[DirgeExtinction]

When was this released? Is that a lot?

 

[chaobreaker]

This is good, right?

Please take note, Capcom. The rest of the world wants Monster Hunter too.

 

[pants]

How do you ship a digital item?

 

[Busaiku]

When was this released? Is that a lot?

The US/European release was Friday, but it was in Japan since October.

 

[Otakumegane]

250k for the Western launch huh.

Assuming around 60-70% is NA it isn't great but it's not terrible.

 

[PranooY]

Nice.. I did my part by purchasing one, But not shipped yet due to low stock.

 

[random25]

Pretty good opening overseas I must say. How does this stack up from MH3U?

 

[Grakl]

250k for the Western launch huh.

Assuming around 60-70% is NA it isn't great but it's not terrible.

Has MH ever done well in the west?

 

[Bruno MB]

This is a very conservative initial shipment (at best 300,000) for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, I would have expected around half a million units.

 

[HeeHo]

I am way happy if the game ends up doing even better than this. I thought the ps2 Monster Hunters looked great. I imagine a modern console version would really catch people's eyes.

I got a New 3DS just to play the game with two sticks...I end up clicking the L button to re-center the camera more often than using the stick still :L

 

[B-Dubs]

Has MH ever done well in the west?

It's done ok, but no where near the numbers it gets in Japan. It's just too hardcore for the average US player.

 

[popyea]

How do you ship a digital item?

Count one copy for each region's digital store.

 

[DJIzana]

I got my copy. Just can't wait to play friends now!

 

[Elija2]

Is 250k in only 3 days really that bad?

 

[Rymuth]

How do you ship a digital item?

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[L~A]

Is 250k in only 3 days really that bad?

Well, we don't have any data for EU/NA yet. The 250k is just an estimate based on the number of units shipped in Japan (2.7m by Dec. 31st). But it's certainly not lower than 200k.

And no, it's not bad, since shortages have been pretty common this week-end (so at the very least, initial expectations have been met, which is great news).

 

[Sandfox]

~250k seems like a pretty decent number.

 

[Unison]

It's done ok, but no where near the numbers it gets in Japan. It's just too hardcore for the average US player.

I don't disagree, but how on earth is this game so popular in Japan, given its complexity? Surely there aren't 4 million people who can play the game at high proficiency.

Do people explain the various systems to each other there or something?

 

[Bruno MB]

Monster Hunter shipments outside Japan.

There is a certain margin of error since these are round figures.

Wii Monster Hunter Tri - 750,000
3DS Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - 900,000
3DS Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - 300,000

 

[Shengar]

MH is the type of game that should have decent legs. I'm looking forward to next MH4U sales report from Capcom.

 

[hupla]

Pretty much everyone ive streetpassed since it came out has been playing this which suprised me! Super happy to see it doing well

 

[L~A]

Monster Hunter shipments outside Japan.

There is a certain margin of error since these are round figures.

Wii Monster Hunter Tri - 750,000
3DS Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - 900,000
3DS Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - 300,000

Thanks, added to the OP!

Oh, and for those wondering "how can you ship a digital game", my answer is "how can you NOT read the first line in the OP?"

This includes retail shipments + download card sales + eShop sales.

 

[membran]

I'm still annoyed by it not being on Wii U. Or any other console, for that matter.

 

[Bruno MB]

It seems Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will fall 600,000 - 800,000 units short of Capcom's expectations.

 

[Pennywise83]

It seems Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will fall 600,000 - 800,000 units short of Capcom's expectations.

The game will keep selling during February and March in the West. Perhaps it won't reach those figures, but it should be pretty close.

 

[Astral/H3X]

I don't disagree, but how on earth is this game so popular in Japan, given its complexity? Surely there aren't 4 million people who can play the game at high proficiency.

Do people explain the various systems to each other there or something?

That's the whole reason its so popular... Its great to get people talking to each other.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

I'm still annoyed by it not being on Wii U. Or any other console, for that matter.

I too would have loved it on Wii U, mainly because it's just nicer to look at and the bigger screen doesn't tire out my eyes as fast.
Still, I love the game. Could easily be my GOTY 2015.

 

[Silphonica]

Their biggest mistake was 3ds only, especially if they wanted westerners to buy it.

 

[Unison]

That's the whole reason its so popular... Its great to get people talking to each other.

That makes sense to a degree, having played the games... and helps explain why the multiplayer has been local co-op focused.

Does anyone know what the game's reputation is in Japan? Is it like a more adult Pokemon? Is it seen as hardcore there? How deeply has it pervaded Japanese pop culture?

 

[Mpl90]

Better context (for US; retail only)

Monster Hunter 3 first month - 126,000 (12 days tracked)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate first month - 120,000 - 125,000 (19 days tracked)

 

[Shengar]

That makes sense to a degree, having played the games... and helps explain why the multiplayer has been local co-op focused.

Does anyone know what the game's reputation is in Japan? Is it like a more adult Pokemon? Is it seen as hardcore there? How deeply has it pervaded Japanese pop culture?

If you read manga from 2008-2010 era, you'll see a ton reference to MH mostly shown by characters playing faux-PSP.

 

[Sesuadra]

I don't disagree, but how on earth is this game so popular in Japan, given its complexity? Surely there aren't 4 million people who can play the game at high proficiency.

Do people explain the various systems to each other there or something?

In Tokyo there a even meetings for singles. The meet and play MonHun together.
Japanese MonHun player a usually pretty good.

 

[Bruno MB]

Better context (for US; retail only)

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate first month - 120,000 - 125,000 (19 days tracked)

3DS - 76,000
Wii U - 46,000

 

[L~A]

Should also add that shippment have passed 3m, they aren't exactly at 3m. Of course, if they had passed another milestone (3.5m), they would've said so.

 

[plasmawave]

I knew MH4G would not outsell MH4.
Franchise fatigue is really starting to set in.

 

[Flunkie]

Their biggest mistake was 3ds only, especially if they wanted westerners to buy it.

Would not disagree with this post.

 

[Pennywise83]

Their biggest mistake was 3ds only, especially if they wanted westerners to buy it.

Would westernrs have bought MH4U as they bought Dragon's Dogms on PS360 and Monster Hunter on PS2 back then?

 

[TacticalFox88]

I just want Monster Hunter on current-Gen so I can do remote-play and shit.

:O

 

[superpickleman]

This game deserves worldwide success, it's so good.

I was stuck in a waiting room for close to four hours today and they just flew by thanks resource gathering and a couple of hunts. Good stuff.

 

[TacticalFox88]

This game deserves worldwide success, it's so good.

I was stuck in a waiting room for close to four hours today and they just flew by thanks resource gathering and a couple of hunts. Good stuff.

FOUR hours?

Holy shit.

My phone battery would've died on me.

;__;

 

[Recall]

Woah. I did my part, wish it was on PS4 though.

Wii U would be nice but oh well, it is what it is.

It's such a rewarding game series that who knows what the future holds.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Is 250k in only 3 days really that bad?

For a Monster Hunter game in the west, exclusive to 3DS? Not at all.

 

[Jo Shishido's Cheeks]

It's like an unofficial GAF rule at this point that any Monster Hunter thread has to have port begging in it.

 

[Shengar]

Would westernrs have bought MH4U as they bought Dragon's Dogms on PS360 and Monster Hunter on PS2 back then?

Eh, the market had changed and Dragon's Dogma beside being made by the same developer and fighting bunch of big monsters, doesn't have any similarity to MH at all. Though I agree that putting on console wouldn't change much, since the reason why MH bloom in Japan is the social aspect of it.

 

[Deband]

Would Capcom even bring a Monster Hunter game to 2 different manufacturers consoles in the same generation?

 

[Oregano]

Only 250k at launch? Should have put it on PS4 where it would have magically sold millions.

 

[Pennywise83]

Eh, the market had changed and Dragon's Dogma beside being made by the same developer and fighting bunch of big monsters, doesn't have any similarity to MH at all. Though I agree that putting on console wouldn't change much, since the reason why MH bloom in Japan is the social aspect of it.

The market has changed: PS2 audience was more keen about Japanese games, indeed. Dragon's Dogma is different from MH, of course, but it really flopped over here; if PS360 audience would have really liked MH, than a Japanese fantasy action-game should have been more successful.

 

[ArcaneFreeze]

Their biggest mistake was 3ds only, especially if they wanted westerners to buy it.

Would the sales on other consoles even cover the costs it would take to port it? Monster Hunter would still be niche outside of Japan even if it was on PS4 and putting it on XBone would be even more of a waste of money since it'll garner almost 0 sales in Japan. Hell putting it on WiiU alongside the 3DS like 3Ultimate would probably have been their safest bet and they didnt even do that which shows that the money spent wouldnt be covered by a few more sales. Nintendo's support for Monster Hunter outside of Japan such as localization and advertising also takes some load of Capcom, which wouldn't happen without exclusivity.