Capcom on why Monster Hunter 4 was brought to 3DS, looking to sell around 2.8 million copies in 7 month period

Monster Hunter did very well on the PSP. But as of late, the series has appeared on Nintendo platforms. And the latest entry, Monster Hunter 4, is a 3DS exclusive.

How was that decision reached? Katsuhiko Ichii, director of the Capcom’s consumer games division, commented on this very topic in a recent interview, noting:

“Continuing to expand on the same hardware definitely has its limits. The Monster Hunter series first released on the PS2, and later released on the PSP (where it became a huge hit). We wanted the next one to be separated from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd so we could meet new expectations, as this is necessary in renewing the franchise on a new system. You have things like the game’s ideal sales period, development time, and other things to determine. As a result, we felt the 3DS was the best option.”

Ichii also addressed Capcom’s initial financial goal for Monster Hunter 4. He stated:

“From the 3DS’s performance, we’re hoping to push about 2.8 million units in a 7-month period. While deploying events in the game, we hope to ensure continuous play.”

It was later pointed out how Monster Hunter Portable 3rd achieved sales of around 4.7 million units after around seven months on the Japanese market. Ichii was asked if this is Capcom’s goal for Monster Hunter 4.

“There was a true breakthrough on the PSP, so there’s no intention to predict so highly in advance. Of course we would like to think it will set a new series high in sales. It’s also important to incorporate a new layer of social gaming for the user. A source of the game business is ‘How much are they getting out of their game?’ That is the asset of the future”