Tencent announced the shutdown of the MMORPG Monster Hunter Online. For a long time, fans of the series hoped to be able to officially play the online RPG here in Germany, but that will not happen now.
What is Monster Hunter Online? Before Monster Hunter World officially enabled multiplayer hunts against the massive creatures, fans of the series worldwide were hoping to get involved in the MMORPG Monster Hunter World. There was much speculation about its release in the West and how to join the Chinese server.
The online role-playing game was released in 2013 by Tencent – but only in China. In the game, you team up with others to hunt the monsters, with Monster Hunter Online focusing more on MMORPG elements than Monster Hunter World does. Thanks to Cryengine 3, the online game looks quite stunning.
By some detours, the title is playable on the Chinese servers with an English fan patch – at least for now.
Capcom and Tencent part ways
Why is the MMORPG being discontinued? The official explanation is that the contract between developer Capcom and publisher Tencent is expiring and will not be renewed.
However, the online game faced technical issues. It was only minimally further developed and never had an official launch. Allegedly, Tencent was also not very enthusiastic about Capcom focusing more on Monster Hunter World, which was significantly more successful.
When do the gates close? Monster Hunter Online will be shut down on December 31, 2019. Even now, it is no longer possible to create a new account for the game or spend money in the in-game shop.
Players express disappointment
How are players reacting? Even though Monster Hunter Online was not officially playable in the West, some were able to join through alternative means. And on Reddit, players are now expressing disappointment over the end of the MMORPG.
Because it was essentially a good online role-playing game. While it could have used some optimizations, it was quite enjoyable to play.
- bluefoxrabbit says: “That’s really too bad because the game was definitely fun.”
- TyoPepe states: “That was it for a good game and the first Monster Hunter on PC.”
Many find it unfortunate that this title is ending before having a chance for a proper worldwide release.
