Capcom is a legacy developer known for some of the most iconic franchises in the industry:Mega Man,Street Fighter, andResident Evilamong them. Another lucrative name in its catalog isMonster Hunter, which debuted on PlayStation 2 in 2004. ModernMonster Huntergames are consistent bestsellers for Capcom, and its 2021 entryMonster Hunter Riseis primed to become an even bigger success by launching on Sony and Microsoft consoles next year - including availability through Xbox Game Pass.
Monster Hunter Risewas a Nintendo Switch exclusive that came to PC this January, a few months prior to the “massive” Sunbreak expansion. Sunbreak’s free Title Updates are ongoing, with last month’sthird update adding Chaotic Gore Magalaand more Risen-class Elder Dragons. Only the base game will release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on January 20, with Sunbreak set to follow in spring 2023. Even so, Xbox Game Pass will undoubtedly giveRiseits third wind despite lacking cross-play functionality.
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Rise is Monster Hunter’s Latest Sales Juggernaut
Resident Evilis likely the first Capcom franchise many will think of considering its steady clip of new releases likeResident Evil Village: Gold EditionandupcomingResident Evil 4remake, but recentMonster Hunterventures often outsell the series. Statistics from Capcom’s Investor Relations showMonster Hunter Worldis the company’s top-selling game as of July 15, 2025, having pushed 18.5 million units (not including the Iceborne expansion, which alone sits at fifth place). The runner-up isResident Evil 7, with latest projections pointing to 11.3 million units sold.
Five of the 10 best-selling titles areResident Evilgames, and two are fromStreet Fighter. YetMonster Hunter Riseis the third entry based on PC and Switch sales, nearly overtakingResident Evil 7at 11.2 million units (the Sunbreak expansion currently sits at 16th place with 4.4 million sales in just four months).WorldandRisecontribute to over a quarter of the series' 88 million total units shipped as of September 30, and that’s beforeMonster Hunter Risehits PlayStation and Xbox.
With this in mind, it’s no wonderMonster Huntercontinues to evolve not just through mainline releases, but auxiliary media such as a live-action film in 2020 and a board game based onWorld. It has also experimented with titles like the MMORPGMonster Hunter Frontier, and last monthCapcom announced a mobile game co-developed by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group- also responsible forCall of Duty: Mobile,Pokemon Unite, and more.
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What Xbox Game Pass can Bring to Monster Hunter Rise
The announcement ofMonster Hunter Risecoming to Sony and Microsoft consoles is significant because it marks the first time Capcom’s series is available on all major systems. Typical entries have been locked to single skews like the PlayStation 2 or Nintendo 3DS, andMonster Hunter Worldwas so graphically intensive that it likely never could have made the jump to Switch without Cloud support. This makesMonster Hunter Risethe franchise’s definitive experience, one that’s all the more accessible as a day-one Xbox Game Pass title.
UnlikeMarvel’s Avengers, which had an underwhelming reception at launch,Monster Hunter Riseis coming to Xbox Game Pass riding positive word-of-mouth, already substantial sales numbers, and the promise of additional updates through the Sunbreak expansion. It is a shame thatCapcom did not work out cross-play or cross-save functionality, butRise’s PC and Switch skews show how successful each individual silo can be. With 2023 bringing the game to two new ecosystems, it’s not hard to imagineMonster Hunter Worldlosing its crown.
Monster Hunter Riseis available now for PC and Switch, with PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X versions launching June 15, 2025.
MORE:Monster Hunter Rise on PlayStation, Xbox May Point to a Long Wait for World 2
