Capcom on Monster Hunter 4 Vita Rumors: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear on the Internet

GenGAME writes: Following the rumors that Monster Hunter 4′s delay was to accommodate for a Vita release, the topic was brought up over at Capcom Unity. A brief discussion ensued, after which Capcom Senior Vice President Christian Svensson himself entered the conversation, and his response essentially squashed any chance that the game will leave the 3DS.

[Prodigy-X]

The point is they need to release a Monster Hunter for PS Vita because it would be more benefit for them and Sony.

[Erimgard]

Capcom's not really interested in what benefits Sony, unless it benefits Capcom as well. Right now, the 3DS is DOMINATING the charts in Japan (even if its sales are modest elsewhere) and the vast majority of the Monster Hunter market is in Japan.

When Monster Hunter games were released for PSP, they were exclusive. If MH4 was just ported to Vita, when there's already a 3DS version, it probably wouldn't sell very well.

The 3DS is a hot item in Japan and the Vita is not. As such, Monster Hunter's going to sell better on 3DS than Vita. The number of people who would buy the Vita version of the game versus the 3DS version of the game might not be enough to justify the time/money spent to port the game.

[Kalowest]

Funny how someone can say something logical and still get disagrees, lol.

[Gamer1982]

Gimme a break if Capcom cared about purely money and nothing more they would be releasing the new Monster hunter for PS3 aswell as Wii-U. Since they aren't they obviously care more about relations with Nintendo or something else as I honestly dont see the point in bringing a huge franchise like that to a a platform exclusively in this day and age. Not when your capcom.

[ABizzel1]

The Vita's lack of sales in Japan is simply because of the PSP.

The PSP is still getting tons of support from Japanese developers in Japan. That's good for the PSP and good for Sony, but they need to stop this, because it's hurting the sales of the Vita.

Looking at their average weekly sales, Vita pushes 80,000 per week (30k EU, 30k J, 20k US). The PSP is still selling 100,000 handhelds per week. Add those together and that could be 180,000 Vita's per week which is the number most people would expect from a new gaming device.

More importantly look at the PSP's sales breakdown 100,000 (2k US, 9K EU, 80,000+ Japan).

That's insane. The PSP is selling as much as Vita WW numbers in Japan alone. It's good, because the PSP is pure revenue for Sony by now, but they need to stop it or the Vita will continue to sell poorly.

[ThanatosDMC]

MH 3DS sales havent even come close to MH PSP sales. Something's wrong. People are either waiting for it to drop on the Vita or they dont want to buy the same game over and over again... lol!

[Abdou23]

@ Kalowest

LOL. you new to N4G or what ?!

[Haha123]

When vita gets a decent install base maybe then capcom will bother

[Ult iMate]

With that logic the first portable Mohun should never be released on PSP. And every 3rd party game should be released on DS.

[SpitTake]

No it's not worth it at all. The 3DS has an install base in japan of over 9million, Vita has an install base in Japan of 1.4 million. It's not worth the money and effort of porting it over the to vita when probably of that 1.4 million, you're getting 300k sold. Not worth it.

[KING85]

Sadly I agree. It would be nice to see it on the Vita, but as you said financially speaking it would be not worth it to port. Unfortunately when you speak anything remotely not in favor of one's loved console on these forums all hell breaks loose and sound reasoning is put out the door.

[dredgewalker]

I actually agree from a business standpoint. But if a monster hunter game can help increase the sale of the Vita then it would be worth a shot at making it. Sometimes businesses need to take some risks in order to make decent money. You can't play safe all the time and sometimes even that strategy fails.

[nirwanda]

@dredgewalker then its sony that should be taking the risk not capcom and should be paying capcom to make it.

[IAmLee]

The DLC isn't on the disc this time or?

[tubers]

Nope.. It's on cart for the 3DS

[Shnazzyone]

Naaa they dont. Nintendo has already basically secured the monster hunter franchise, assisted by the fact that vita just does not have a worthwhile install base while 3ds 100% does. At this point theres a better chance of another freedom unite game on psp then a new monster hunter on vita. Nintendo just offers platforms that take less resources to develop for and a bigger group to buy the games.

It's kinda logical even if vita owners are so hard up for games as to make stuff up now.

[mrbojingles]

benefit them how? it would be a terrible business decision. the Vita isn't getting better software/hardware sales anytime soon and it isn't capcom's responsibility to help it. they make games on platforms with a good chance of good sales.

[Killzoner99]

Screw Crapcom. After what they did to DMC I don't care what they do with their franchises. Vita does not need Monster Hunter , it can go ROT.

[AWBrawler]

More hunting for us 3DS owners then. Careful what you wish for

[CalvinKlein]

Sony should pay capcom some money to make a VIta version with exclusive DLC!!!!! Entice them with the thought of using the superior PSN to milk the consumer with some DLC. If Sony mentions the DLC milking Idea it may not even cost them much to get a vita version. Thell them to sell armor for 5.00 and include it already with the game data. They will like that idea and want to port more games to vita suddenly.

[Knight_Crawler]

LOL so now its ok to pay for exclusive DLC but when MS does it they are evil.

What about N4G users screaming that 1st party games are more important than 3 party multiplat games.

The irony on this site never stops to amaze...multiplats are way more important than 1st party games and Sony never took advantage of that and now they are not the Giants that they were with the PS2.

Sony should be throwing mad money at Konami right now to make MGS 5 a PS4 exclusive but we all know that Sony is a saint and they would never for anything exclusive.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

"Don’t Believe Everything You Hear on the Internet"

So why does everyone believe it's only for 3ds for 3 years?

no buy for me.. not getting a 3ds just for this.

I hope sony brings back shadow of the colossus.

[NovusTerminus]

Yeah. I gave up on Capcom giving a damn about the MH fanbase since I am STILL waiting for MHF3.

So yeah, I guess Capcom built up a 3mil+ fanbase on the PSP and said "screw 'em" would settle for a PSN release of Freedom 3.

[Erimgard]

It seems to me like Capcom operates under the assumption that their fanbase will follow the games regardless of system. As such, whatever system they think is the hot item at the moment is the system they're going to go with. It's a bit unfair, but I guess that's business.

[vork77]

and yet no good megaman games

[Kalowest]

"Capcom operates under the assumption that their fanbase will follow the games regardless of system."

If you were a Multi-Console owner, this won't be a problem. Just buy the game for whatever system.

[Gamer1982]

"If you were a Multi-Console owner, this won't be a problem. Just buy the game for whatever system. "
Wow how deluded. I am a man who had had a few 360s over time and now own 2 ps3s and a pc (sold all my 360s thanks to less exclusives and online not being free) but I totally agree with that sentiment. Consumers mostly decide on 1 console and a stretch 2. Back when SEGA were still a power we had 2 major consoles and thats it now we have 3 and for my liking its 1 too many. Not everybody can put down £300+ on a new console (launch prices) then pay for new ones when they die plus peripherals, games etc.

If your lucky enough to have every console and handheld then you have some serious cash. I spend the bulk of my cash on gaming as my whole family love it but I still cannot afford every system and keep up with games. It's why I went to PC mainly also. It's the most expensive initial payment but boy does it pay itself back in dividends! Games for less than half price of the console versions.

[TruthbeTold]

Gamer1982,

So it's on Capcom to take a major risk by releasing a version on the Vita, for the sake of those who can't/won't buy a 3DS?

That makes no sense. If one is truly in a financial position where they can only buy a single gaming device, then they probably should not be buying it anywhere near launch. See how things play out. If you have to buy such and such device because of company loyalty, and you can't afford something else - then when the games you want aren't released on it, it's not the developer's fault. It's the decision making of the gamer. Period.

[zebramocha]

@truth what you said makes no sense because mh is not a new ip,we don't know how much a vita port would cost and this game isn't guarantee to sell 9 mil so why can't they port it? if the game was good on the psp,it should be great on the vita.

[mrbojingles]

maybe Sony shouldn't market their handheld poorly and come out with real first party system sellerd in order to increase sales so companies like Capcom can take less of a risk developing for Vita?

Developers abandoning a brand or platform is because of that platform aging too much or no longer being a good investment.

[Haha123]

ahwell shame, cant wait for 3 ultimate and 4 for my 3DS :P

[RogueStatus28]

Pokemon XY and Monster Hunter 4 in the same month, overkill, headshot, stone cold stunner, boot to face, etc.

[godofboobees]

I've always been a loyal follower of Mh but given the direction capcom is going with it now I'm starting to lose faith. Money hungry pricks

[GribbleGrunger]

I find it an odd choice to be honest. I bet they'd sell just as many if not more copies of the game if it was released on the Vita. There have been some really stupid decisions this gen. Look at Okami on the Wii. There was the perfect opportunity to make a killing on the PS3 but it wasn't until much later on that they decided to make a HD version (which did much much better than the Wii version)

I really think that money has had too bigger voice this gen. I think one of the main problems is they just look at the current user base now and don't factor in the data for their game potentially helping to sell hardware, and so ALSO help sell their game. It seems that developers expect a device to be successful first when before they knew it was partly their responsibility to help make it a success.

They need to take responsibility like they used to and this industry would become as healthy as it was before. Stop working to your bottom line and remember the oldest business adage in the book: 'You have to speculate to accumulate'

[mrbojingles]

sell as good on Vita? really? hasn't MH3 in japan on 3DS sold like 50% of vita's lifetime worldwide hardware sales? I'd wager if MH4 was on both it would be more like 2mil on 3DS and 500k on PSV in Japan

also, while i don't like most of their decisions they have a business to run. they don't owe us anything. it isn't their responsibility to sell Vitas. they don't do charity for MS, Sony, or Ninty.

[AWBrawler]

Also capcom wants MH to catch on in America, and guess which MH has sold the most in America? That's right the one on Wii because nintendo helped advertise it.

Capcom is a business and they see now that that nintendo will help them advertise their game, thus less money out their pockets

[tehpees3]

In other words its not happening. I can't really say I'm surprised. Nintendo obviously have exclusive rights to it.

@ Gribble I believe they were still happy with how the Wii version performed in comparison to the cost it took. Which isn't that much when they are upscaling it for PS3.

[ThanatosDMC]

I wouldnt doubt it if they bought exclusivity rights... sadly Monster Hunter is not selling as fast or as much as it used to. I dont want another Capcom franchise to take a nose dive.

[RogueStatus28]

3DS is the fastest selling system in Japan, this is a bad decision because?

[iamnsuperman]

because why one platform over two. I mean it can be a port but still people will buy it. Third party exclusives are going the way of the dodo because it is more cost effective to have it on multiple systems

[SpitTake]

You'd be wasting money porting the game to a system with a user base of just 1.4 million, you would sell a lot of games and you'd be wasting money in the process.
Oh and I can't wait to be bumbarded with disagrees.

[TruthbeTold]

So you'd be happy with a Vita port that had 3DS level graphics? I doubt most Vita owners would. And yet it would cost money to take advantage of the Vita hardware. This isn't a game you could just take from the Wii U and put on the Vita either. This is no simple port... Perhaps there will be a decision in the future to make a port when the Vita install-base in Japan is MUCH higher, ya know? But as of right now, it doesn't make sense financially.

As for the game being a 'system seller' for the Vita, IF Capcom has any interest in that at all (which apparently the higher development cost means they don't), why would this Monster Hunter game be a system seller when the game is already on the more affordable 3DS, and gamers in Japan show a heavy preference already? Again, that makes no sense.

I know people are worried about the Vita. But I'll tell you what will 'save' it.

It won't be long (probably even E3 2013) before we see a significant price cut I think. That isn't to say that the tech isn't worth the price, but people aren't paying it, so that's irrelevant. As long as Sony remains willing to take the same amount of loss for a time as they were at launch as they create the new price point, they can make the system more affordable after a year and a half.

For all of the piss poor games some developers have released on Vita, there have been great ones, and people waiting to play them when they can afford to buy the Vita + storage + the games. Once those people are on board, developers will have no reason not to make the extra effort. The 3DS went through the same thing, only it's not as expensive to develop for the 3DS, so the growing pains didn't last as long.

[vork77]

so i dont beleive what crapcom says online or the reviews for DmC ok thanks so the game is crap

[ThaBlackBaron]

LOL Why is this so hard for u Sony Drones to understand?? The best selling Console MH game was on a NINTENDO system, 3DS has sold nearly 10x the units of Vita, 3DS is HOT right now in japan AND America..HELL The WORLD! Nintendo was successful in making Monster Hunter popular in the west, something Capcom has been trying to do for YEARS! This is simple logic here, Go where the money, Sales, and Fanbase is!

I knew, Once Tri was successful, MH would be on nintendo systems for VERY long time

[godofboobees]

If you knew anything about this game you would know the fanbase started with the ps2 then the psp. Tri barely made the numbers the psp put up. Before you rant about logic and sales check your facts.

[TruthbeTold]

What has become apparent, is that Capcom is not willing to spend beyond a certain point for this series development. It started when they changed Tri from PS3 to Wii. Now Sony has chosen tech with a somewhat similar cost for development for the Vita. Capcom wants MH development to be 'cheap'. It was when they could make games for the PS2 and the PSP. Obviously not anymore. 3DS development is akin to making an affordable Wii game that looks better, and Wii U development is cheaper than PS360 development due to the huge amount of ready made, built in resources that require simple insertion rather than coding.

So where the series started doesn't matter at all. Especially since Japan prefers the 3DS by far, and shows the same level of excitement for the new releases on the 3DS, and Wii U as ever, if not more.

[mrbojingles]

hasn't Nintendo publishing MH in the west lead to its best non-japan sales?

where the fanbase started really doesn't matter at all. if it did, there are plenty of franchises Sony owes the success of the PS1 and PS2 to Sega and Nintendo if we're acting like its a bad thing that they jump ship sometimes.

[ThaBlackBaron]

LOL so by ur logic Capcom should release MH4 on PSP and PS2 LMAO Dont matter where it started fool, its about where the fan base is NOW! and thats the 3DS AND Wii U!

And maybe YOU should get ur facts right about this series, Ur comparing PSP 4 MH games to 1 game Tri? lol fail! but the best part is OUT of the Top 5 best selling MH titles, Tri hold TWO spots! lol

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Capcom "Don't think we'll do anything unless it pisses the vast majority of you off"

[RogueStatus28]

Not coming to Vita

http://mynintendonews.com/2...

[ThePsychoGamer]

Using a rumor to discredit a rumor on an article about how people shouldn't be so trusting of rumors. Can you say irony?

[DivineAssault]

It might not go to vita but it might not make it to the west either.. Keep that in mind cuz theres no release in sight fot westerners... Now what if tri g doesnt sell well on wii u (which also has a small install base) & doesnt sell well on 3ds in the west.. Then 4 might not even come..

It really doesnt matter cuz as long as i have soul sacrifice to look forward to, MH can kick rocks..

[Kingthrash360]

I'm an American and could give a rats ass if monster hunter hits vita or not....... But , but I wouldn't nessesarily say that they declined that monster hunter would be released on the handheld. He could have been referring to the reason why it was delayed. Maybe it was delayed for some other more technical reason.

[Erimgard]

Capcom reported the reason it was delayed: To make it higher quality.

The only "rumor" aspect of any of the story was a Vita release.

[Kingthrash360]

So why didn't he report that it indeed wasn't being made for tha vita right now? Maybe the higher quality was for the vita version....because its capable of a higher quality than the 3ds...... Just sayin.

[MizTv]

If you want any of my money capcom
Please make this game

[DarkHeroZX]

Ima laugh when MH sells like crap while Pokemon makes off with all the sales.

[tubers]

Either way the VITA seems out of the picture for 2013.

Damn it Sony! Churn your in house devs more for the PSV! :(

[PhillipSantanaMusic]

im no fan of MHV but imho SONY REALLY Messed up letting this game go. obvious ALOT of people like this game and for SONY not to get a deal done to keep this wasnt their best move but at the same time its obvious when CAPCOM went with nintendo, its was basically for the money if you going to exclude your fans in a system thats been there for years.

im more than happy with my 3G 32gb Vita.

[Zoron007]

They wont develop for it because it hasn't sold well. It hasn't sold well because nobody wants to develop for it. How will vita sales ever get better?

[T3MPL3TON]

It's all about the bottom line. Not about money incurred.

Bottom line is.

3DS has a 9.1million pre-installed fan base.
Vita has 1.4 million.

The game cost money to make. You can go with the sure thing which is the 3DS or you can go with a crap shoot and pray more people buy the Vita just for your game. Thing is nobody cares about the Vita right now. Everyone knows it. Capcom, had to make the right business decision. For once they actually did.

[Badman8989]

I love the vita and monster hunter, I hope this version doesn't touch the vita. I've seen MH4 and its stuck in the f$@&ing stone age!! What vita needs is a FRESH next-gen monster hunter that will s$#t all over the 3ds version. If you're a true MH fan you'll want it on the vita to see its true potential, OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!!

Whatever happens, happens. No use rambling on about it.