Monster Hunter Rise’s strong launch sales have now pushed the series over 70m

Monster Hunter Rise has now shipped 5 million units since its release ten days ago, Capcom has claimed.

The impressive launch sales mean the Monster Hunter series has now sold over 70 million units combined, since Capcom confirmed figures of 66 million on December 31, 2020. Capcom’s largest series, Resident Evil, has sold just over 100 million units.

The publisher’s previous Monster Hunter title, Monster Hunter World, managed to hit 5 million launch sales during its opening weekend (when Rise hit 4), though that title was released on multiple platforms.

Monster Hunter Rise hit stores on March 26 alongside a special edition Monster Hunter Rise Switch console and three Amiibo that let players unlock new armour sets.

Following Rise’s release last month, Capcom stock soared to an all-time high in Tokyo.

Capcom has high hopes for the Switch exclusive. In January, the publisher told shareholders it expected to generate almost 20% more operating income during that fiscal year, partly thanks to a “promising” start to pre-orders for the game.

While the Monster Hunter series has traditionally been successful in Japan, its popularity went global following the 2018 release of Monster Hunter World for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The game became the first in Capcom’s history to ship 15 million copies. Total shipments had reached 16.8 million units as of December 2020.

Capcom is bullish about Rise’s prospects in Europe. “We’re working very closely with Nintendo of Europe to make Monster Hunter: Rise a success in the region,” its European COO Stuart Turner told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview last month.

“We’re very confident that the massive success we’ve had in the past with Monster Hunter: World will transfer across to the passionate fanbase we have on Nintendo Switch.”