Following its recent and highly successful launch in Japan with day one shipment numbers exceeding one million, Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is pleased to confirm that Monster Hunter Tri will be released in both Europe and North America for the Wii in early 2010. Monster Hunter Tri will set the bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and gameplay elements as the multi-million selling franchise makes its debut on the Nintendo system.

One of the most strikingly beautiful titles ever developed for the Wii, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with the fantastic beasts that roam both the dry land and the brand new sub-aqua environment – a first for the series.

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option of split-screen mode where two players can hunt co-operatively or form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be ably accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable. New items, weapons and armour sets will be also available to assist the hunters as they embark on the most epic Monster Hunter adventure to date.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director, Marketing & PR, Nintendo of Europe, commented “The popularity of the Monster Hunter franchise in Japan is undeniable and the Day 1 shipment number indicates that the release of Monster Hunter Tri on Wii will be another major hit for the series. We are therefore really excited that Capcom is bringing this title to Europe so the Wii audience here can also experience the thrill of the hunt. “

Visitors to this month’s GamesCom – taking place in Cologne, Germany from the 19th-23rd August – will be the first to sample a localised version of the title on Capcom’s stand as it makes its debut to a western audience. GamesCom attendees will have the opportunity to play the same game that took last year’s Tokyo Game Show by storm, with queues that stretched around Capcom’s stand so long they nearly shut down the show; eager gamers waited in excess of two hours to play.

This desire to be one of the first to experience Monster Hunter Tri is indicative of the impact the Monster Hunter franchise has made on videogame culture in Japan. With series sales totalling well over 10 million units and 3.5 million sales of Monster Hunter Portable 2G alone, it’s no surprise to find that Monster Hunter has given rise to dedicated “Monster Hunter Summer Training Camps”, ”Monster Hunter Festivals” and numerous licensed products. The franchise doesn’t just top the charts, it’s become a social phenomenon.