The Monster Hunter Rise demo will appear in the eShop on January 7, 2021 and will be available to access until February 1, 2021. The announcement came from the official Monster Hunter Twitch during a live broadcast and appeared on the official Twitter account. A new trailer was also shown during the broadcast which provided a better look at Kamura Village. Multiplayer character interactions were also shown briefly.
Here’s the Twitter announcement. Note that while it says January 8, 2021, Capcom confirmed it will be on the eShop this evening.
Take control.
Harness the power of the mightiest monsters with Wyvern Riding!#MHRise Demo available on #NintendoSwitch January 8. pic.twitter.com/zvCjH1Wzvu
— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) January 7, 2021
The demo will have beginner and intermediate quests, with single player, local co-op, and online co-op options available. Players will have access to all fourteen weapons and will explore the Shrine Ruins area. You will also be able to take a Palamute and Palico with you, so you can experience both types of assistance.
A new monster was revealed during the presentation. The Goss Harag is an entirely new monster that will be making its first appearance in Monster Hunter Rise. This monster can create blades of ice using its own breath. Returning monsters include the Khezu, which was previously shown in a Japanese commercial, the Great Baggi, and the Tigrex. The fan favorite Mizutsune has also been confirmed as a returning monster, as it was shown at the tail end of the trailer.
One of the locales shown off during the trailer included the Frost Mountains, a desolate, snowy landscape where dragons previously came to nest. A variety of endemic life will be available in each location for players to utilize to their fullest. Goss Harag can be found in the Frost Mountains, which makes sense given its affinity for ice. The Barioth and Lagombi will also appear in this location.
New features include the ability to ride wyverns through the use of the Wirebug. During the broadcast, the player was shown riding the fearsome Tigrex and using the creature to attack other monsters. Additionally, players will also have the opportunity to try this out in the demo.
You can watch a recording of the broadcast through the official Monster Hunter Twitch account.
Monster Hunter Rise is in development for the Nintendo Switch and will launch worldwide on March 26, 2021. A Monster Hunter Rise demo will appear January 7, 2021.