Everyone thinks Monster Hunter changed forever with the last two games, except the series boss. Ryozo Tsujimoto claims that the success comes from a PSP game. The future of Monster Hunter Wilds is the result of 20 years of evolution.

If you ask any Monster Hunter fan when the franchise truly changed, they would likely point to one of the last two games. Logic supports this, given that over 60% of total franchise sales have come since Monster Hunter: World launched in January 2018. However, Ryozo Tsujimoto, who has been a producer on the series for two decades, has a different view. For him, the turning point wasn’t even one of the recent games—it started with something that took shape during the PSP era.

Monster Hunter’s Big Break on PSP

In an interview with Sankei Shimbun, one of Japan’s top news outlets, Tsujimoto explained that the earlier Monster Hunter titles suffered due to technological limitations. He always envisioned the series as something to be enjoyed socially, but the PlayStation 2’s online capabilities were too complex for most users. Many players loved the concept, but it also shut a lot of doors for Tsujimoto.

According to Tsujimoto, the key to understanding Monster Hunter is through the lens of social gaming. This is why the PSP holds such a special place in his heart. It was the first console to offer both Wi-Fi and a Monster Hunter game simultaneously. “It let people experience playing together at a time when they weren’t as likely to visit a friend’s house for late-night gaming sessions,” said the producer.

The PSP entries proved that the Monster Hunter concept was viable, and Capcom kept pushing forward with it. Now, two decades later, Monster Hunter: Wilds is the most anticipated game on Steam, surpassing even titles like Deadlock, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and STALKER 2. With social gaming taking on a bigger role than ever, it seems unlikely the franchise won’t once again shine when the next chapter drops on February 28, 2025.

Source: 3djuegos