We bring you all the info on the PC version of Monster Hunter Rise and clarify what you can expect in terms of graphics, system requirements and more in comparison to Monster Hunter World.
Saddle up your Rathalos, feed your trusty Palico and clean your hunting boots, because Monster Hunter Rise, the next sequel for PC, will be released in 2022. However, not as a successor in the form of Monster Hunter World 2, but as a PC port of the current Switch offshoot. Although it has to make compromises in terms of graphics, it integrates some clever innovations on the gameplay side.
We played the demo via Steam for a few hours and also spoke with the developers – specifically producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, who answered our questions about the PC future of Monster Hunter. Here you can find out how MH Rise compares to World and what the PC version has to offer in terms of graphics and technology.
Table of Contents
All info on the PC version of Monster Hunter Rise
Release: When will MH Rise be released for PC?
The PC version of Rise finally has a release date and even comes out not even a full year after the Switch version. You can start playing via Steam on 12 January 2022. By the way, a release for PS4/PS5 or Xbox One/Xbox Series has not been announced yet.
Price: How much does MH Rise cost and what about pre-order bonuses?
The Standard Edition of MH Rise costs 60 euros and includes the main game. If you buy the Deluxe Edition, you pay 75 euros and get cosmetic looks for hunters and companion animals as well as a few emotes.
- Hunter Decorative Armour “Kamurai “
- Palamute Decorative Armour “Shuriken Necklace “
- Palico Decoration “Fish Necklace “
- Gesture set “4 jumps “
- Pose set “Samurai “
- Face paint “Kabuki “
- Hairdo “Izuchi ponytail “
You won’t get any tangible game content, so think about whether you want to spend 15 euros on it. If you pre-order, you will also get these bonuses with the normal edition:
- Palamute Decorative Armour “Golden Retriever “
- Palico Decorative Armour “Forest Cat “
- Novice talisman for “a little help at the beginning “
If you try out the current demo, you will also get the object package “Demo Player Bonus” with a few potions and traps on top.
System requirements: How demanding is it?
Surprisingly close to MH World: Although MH Rise was originally released for the Nintendo Switch, a GTX 1060 is recommended as a graphics card, just like Monster Hunter World. Of course, this still makes the PC version rather frugal by today’s standards.
The difference becomes somewhat clearer when it comes to the processor. Here, MH World recommends the Core i7-3770 or a comparable model. However, both games require 8 GB of RAM and about 20 GB of free storage space.
Minimum system requirements
- Processor: Core i3-4130/Core i5-3470/FX-6100
- Graphics card: Geforce GT 1030/Radeon RX 550
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Hard Disk: 23 GB
Recommended system requirements
- Processor: Core i5-4460/FX-8300
- Graphics card: Geforce GTX 1060/Radeon RX 570
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Hard Disk: 23 GB
Graphics: Can it stand up next to MH World
The direct comparison is not entirely fair, of course. Monster Hunter Rise has to run on the Switch, after all, and was developed primarily for the portable console, while World uses PS4 and Xbox One as its base. Nevertheless, Rise also offers a wide range of graphics settings, which include unlimited framerate, high-resolution textures, 4K resolution and Ultrawide support (21:9):
In terms of level design, Monster Hunter Rise is in no way inferior to MH World. Here, too, you roam through extremely vertical areas, which are sometimes covered in red sand, sometimes in snow and ice, and sometimes provide variety via Japanese temple ruins and bamboo forests – this also fits the scenario, because the Asian village of Kamura serves as the quest hub this time. Armour, weapons, monsters, soundtrack and the general style of the action role-playing game have a much stronger Far Eastern touch.
Using the new rope beetles, you can even catapult yourself to mountain peaks and far above the treetops at certain points, run along rock walls, climb ledges or attack monsters from above. The general look is coherent and the areas reward your urge to explore with useful resources or atmospheric views.
The textures on tree bark, rock faces, buildings and clothing also look crisp and sharp. The models of hunters and monsters are also very detailed, and the latter in particular score points for their elegant and smooth animations. Here, the developers get everything out of the Switch version. Rise is less impressive when it comes to the vegetation and the hustle and bustle of monsters and animals that we know from World. The areas simply seem much more barren and empty, which is also detrimental to the atmosphere.
Technology: How smoothly does Monster Hunter Rise run on the PC?
We were able to play most of the demo in 4K at 60fps with our Geforce RTX 2070 and an i7-8700K processor without any problems. However, the screenshot button froze the game briefly every now and then. In addition, there were a few annoying micro-stutters in between. However, we did not experience any crashes or major bugs apart from small glitches. All in all, the PC version makes a solid first impression technically.
It remains to be seen how the performance will be with several players and monsters on the map. So far, we have only been able to try out the first area in the demo, with one enemy monster and only one player, because we have not found a larger group.
The mouse and keyboard controls can be freely adjusted. Similar to World, it nevertheless feels more awkward and takes a bit more getting used to than the fluid controller control. Especially with the rope beetles, your fingers can get knotted on the input devices in battle. But once you get used to it and change a few buttons to your own preferences, you’ll get along fine.
By the way, the fact that the Switch version can be ported so easily for the PC is due to the RE Engine, which Rise uses for the first time in the series. It was already used in Resident Evil 7 and Village.
Features: How do World and Rise differ gameplay-wise?
We couldn’t wait for the PC release, of course, so we’ve already played the Switch version up and down.
Naturally, we couldn’t wait until the PC release and have therefore already put the Switch version through its paces. You can see the gameplay comparison between Monster Hunter World and Rise in detail in the video below:
However, at a glance you can also find the most important differences and innovations that Rise introduces:
- New monsters, characters and areas: You don’t need to have played World or any other Monster Hunter to come along.
- Rope Beetle: Similar to the Clamp Claw in Iceborne, the Beetle turns combat and movement on its head. You can use it to climb, attack monsters, tie them up or even ride a horse.
- Wyvern Ride: You can briefly climb monsters weakened by the rope beetles (like when mounting in World) and hurl them against other creatures or walls. They will then lie on the ground for a short time and drop material.
- RandalsQuests: Waves of monsters attack the village and are repelled with weapons or defensive machines. This achievement gives you many rewards
- Palamutes: Alone, you can take a dog companion along with your Palico cat on quests. It fights and serves as a mount that you can always summon. In multiplayer, you have to choose a companion.
- Endemic creatures: If you collect the small creatures that cavort in the hunting grounds, you can increase your stats along the way. Potions and food in advance are not the only way to do this.
How the gameplay of Rise works
The gameplay of Rise is rather reminiscent of older series spin-offs – no wonder, after all, the action role-playing game does not come from the World developer, but from the team behind Generations. You set off on solo missions from the village of Kamura, where you will also find blacksmiths, merchants, cooks and so on. You start independent multiplayer quests via the meeting place. In this way, you rise in the hunter rank and gradually unlock more demanding missions. You can complete side missions along the way, for example by collecting mushrooms.
The 14 weapons and the basic game principle, however, are the same as in World: you accept a quest and then have up to 50 minutes to find the monster and kill or capture it. This provides you with materials that you can invest in even better weapons and armour to hunt stronger monsters. Each creature has certain strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique abilities and attack patterns.
Multiplayer: How to play MH Rise in co-op?
Multiplayer missions with co-op for up to four players are accepted in the meeting place – or you join yourself by accepting the mission at the quest board. You can also complete them alone, but expect more resistance than solo missions. What’s new is that Monster Hunter Rise comes with an integrated voice chat. Instead of using pre-made chat inputs or outside of the game, you can now communicate directly in it – or deactivate the feature.
Will there be cross saves or cross play with the Switch?
If you want to continue playing Rise on your PC or switch seamlessly between Switch and Steam, you’re in for a surprise. Savings and progress cannot be transferred and PC and console players cannot play together. Capcom is currently not in a position to implement the feature. This does not rule out that this will change at some point, but you should not expect it at the moment.
Roadmap: What’s next for Monster Hunter Rise on PC?
According to Capcom, the PC version of Monster Hunter Rise should catch up with the Switch variant in terms of free DLCs by November 2022. This means that not all additional content will be available in one go at release.
Big add-on: release and content of Sunbreak on PC?
Similar to World with the highly acclaimed Iceborne, Monster Hunter Rise is getting a big expansion: Sunbreak. It will be released in the summer of 2022 – and at the same time for PC and console. The add-on is set after the main story and introduces a new master rank for experienced players.
As in Iceborne, you will be transported to a new base and at least one additional hunting ground, where Malzeno, a bad-tempered dragon, lurks in a ruined castle as the new Dragon Elder. In addition to this impressive beast, other new monsters await you, such as the Shogun Ceanataur, which you know from older games.
Monster Hunter for PC: What does the future look like after World and Rise?
Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto tells us that the success of Monster Hunter World in the West has changed the way they look at the series. With Rise, they also had in mind that the game should appeal to hunters around the globe. That’s why they integrated many features introduced with World, such as seamless areas, and made them the new standard for the series. The PC version of Rise was developed because many demanded it when the game was announced – especially in the West.
This move also changes how Monster Hunter will go in the future:
Because the series is winning more and more players for itself and is perceived more strongly worldwide, our strategy has changed. I can’t go into too much detail, but we always want to challenge ourselves with making games that reach more and more players and continue to grow the Monster Hunter audience.
This also makes further spin-offs in the style of the turn-based role-playing game Monster Hunter Stories 2 conceivable, although Tsujimoto also only answers this question by saying that they always want to reach more players. More PC spin-offs are thus very likelyh.
