Monster Hunter World: Iceborne launches on September 6 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, PC version in January
Update (July 31)
Capcom has narrowed down the window of the PC release of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne to January 2020 (from a more general Winter 2020).
Original (May 9)
Kicking off today's State of Play broadcast from Sony Interactive Entertainment, a new lengthy trailer was shown for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, the upcoming expansion to the hunting game. It is set to launch on September 6 for PlayStation 4 & Xbox One, while the PC release will follow in Winter.
Capcom also held a stream detailing new information for Iceborne and the base game. Find the trailer and stream embeds below, as well as the press release in full and screenshots/artwork from Capcom. In case you missed it, you can check out the announcement trailer from December 2018 here.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne - Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Spring Developer Update Stream (starts at 30:18)
Iceborne:
- Takes place after Monster Hunter: World's main story
- Will introduce a new rank, Master Rank. It's similar to older games' G Rank
- The new locale is called Hoarfrost Reach, and will be the biggest area in Monster Hunter World yet
- Many areas are snowy and the snow can slow you down
- Hot Drinks return, protecting you from the cold
- You can also use hot springs scattered around the map for the same effect as a Hot Drink, plus monkeys to chill with
- Iceborne's new monsters:
- Banbaro is a new monster that looks like a goat. He mainly charges with his giant horns, but picks up stuff with them that can change his attacks.
- Beotodus is a new monster that's similar to Lavasioth. It stays submerged in the snow most of the time.
- Nargacuga is a returning monster from Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. It'll have its old moves, as well as some World style twists
- Velkana is the new Elder Dragon for Iceborne. He's ice element, but not much has been shown about him yet.
- You can now use the slinger and certain items while your weapon is drawn
- The Clutch Claw is a new item you can use to grapple onto monsters. It's not the same as mounting them, but it'll allow you a range of new moves, depending on the weapons you're using.
- There will also be new weapon combos to play with.
Monster Hunter World:
- Arch-Tempered Nergigante will be released this week
- As expected, he's very hard to deal with, and you'll be able to use parts from this version to make the Gamma version of his armor
- A dynamic theme for PlayStation 4 featuring Nergigante will be available for $2.99/€2.99.
Pre-orders for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne are available now. If you have the base game already, you can grab the digital version of the expansion. The Digital Deluxe version of Iceborne comes with a few extra goodies, too. If you don't have World itself, you can grab the Master Edition, which includes the base game and the Iceborne expansion. All pre-orders will come with a special layered armor set, as well. For more information on the various editions, check out the press release below.
Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – May 9, 2019 – Today in a special Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Spring Update broadcast, Capcom announced new details for the highly anticipated massive expansion to Monster Hunter: World, the best-selling Capcom title of all time with more than 12 million units shipped worldwide adding to the series total of more than 53 million units to date. This gargantuan follow-up rivals the gameplay volume from the original release, and will be available for PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, globally on September 6, 2019. A PC release will follow this winter. Several details were revealed during the broadcast including the first look at Monster Hunter World: Iceborne with information on the new icy setting, monsters, gameplay options, purchase and pre-order options for console, and the latest updates for Monster Hunter: World.
The Iceborne expansion builds on every aspect of Monster Hunter: World, starting with an all-new story that picks up after the main game and whisks hunters away to a newly discovered chilly locale called Hoarfrost Reach. The snow-covered terrain offers an ecosystem that contrasts areas in the main game and progressively expands with the story. Iceborne is set to offer the largest region in the game so far, presenting hunters a wealth of new content with even more quests to face than in the original release.
Iceborne also introduces the new higher difficulty Master Rank, a brand-new quest tier that makes new and existing monsters more ferocious than ever. The extreme cold is also the setting for brand new frigid climate foes such as the horned brute wyvern Banbaro and the snow-buried Beotodus. These interweave with returning fan favorites such as the swift-attacking Nargacuga who adds some dangerous new tricks to his trademark move set as he joins the Monster Hunter: World lineup. Leading the pack in Iceborne is the mysterious new flagship monster Velkhana, an elder dragon with powerful ice attacks that is a pervasive threat in the new story.
To ready players to face the expansion’s fierce hunts, several new gameplay options have been added to broaden the player’s combat repertoire, creating opportunities for exciting new hunting strategies. The Slinger can now be used while the main weapon is drawn, regardless of weapon type. New features have also been added for the Slinger such as the Clutch Claw used to grapple onto monsters with more direct control and the Flinch Shot which unloads Slinger ammo to stun monsters. Each of the 14 weapon types will also get new combos and new elements, offering additional depth to master in combat.
The Monster Hunter: World base game is required and while Iceborne players will be able to enjoy some of the gameplay options such as the Slinger and weapon updates right away, they must have completed the main story through Hunter Rank 16 in order to access the new Iceborne story and quests. Several options are now available for pre-order for new or returning players on console either digitally or at participating retailers, with a special Yukumo Series layered armor set bonus exclusively for these early bird customers. For existing owners, the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion is available as digital DLC for MSRP $39.99 / €39.99. A Digital Deluxe version including both the expansion and a Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Deluxe Kit DLC of cosmetic items is MSRP $49.99 / €49.99. For newcomers, the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition containing both the main game and the Iceborne expansion is available to preorder at retail and will be available for purchase digitally at launch for MSRP $59.99 / €59.99. For European retail pricing please check with individual retailers. At North America retail only, the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition Deluxe option that also includes the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Deluxe Kit DLC comes in a Steelbook for MSRP $79.99.
For players who have not yet tried Monster Hunter: World, now is the perfect time to dive into the game ahead of the Iceborne expansion. A free trial is available on PS4 from today through May 20, 2019. This will provide plenty of opportunities to try out a variety of quests, craft and upgrade equipment, and join in on the game’s trademark cooperative multiplayer action with existing owners of the game. Any saved progress transfers over to the main game, so new players are encouraged to start their hunting journey before the expansion’s release.
In the meantime, for existing Monster Hunter: World players on console, the last new content update for the base game will celebrate the aggressive flagship monster Nergigante who will finally appear in the formidable Arch-Tempered form for a limited time from May 11 UTC. Defeating this ultimate challenge will yield the powerful Nergigante gamma armor. In addition, a dynamic theme showcasing the lethal monster complete with custom ravaged system icons and the main game’s theme “Stars at Our Backs” as background music is now available for sale digitally on PS4 for MSRP $2.99 / €2.99.
Capcom will have additional information about Monster Hunter World: Iceborne at E3 this June so stay tuned. And as always, happy hunting!
