Microsoft Reportedly Collaborating With Certain Affinity For Unannounced Monster Hunter-like Project

Although Microsoft is a blockbuster publisher with entires such as Gears of War, Halo, and the upcoming Fable remake, the firm for obvious reasons show interest to create Japanese content as well. While the Xbox company has partnered with region-made projects for Xbox Game Pass, the firm is eager to do it itself. With the acquisition of Tango Gameworks, Xbox lead Phil Spencer mentions sitting down with the team for the future of the acquisition of the studio.

Currently, Xbox Series X|S is in a good spot for the Japanese market as well. While the platform is still not outperforming the other competition in its native territory, Xbox Series consoles in October was reported to meet close to 100K sold units – a milestone which took Xbox One three years to achieve done in a third of the time. Previously, many can recall Scalebound to be Microsoft definitive attempt to make a statement in Japan.

However, the game as we all know was delayed until its cancellation. In November, game director Hideki Kamiya told the reasoning was due to the number of obstacles which staggered PlatinumGames from effectively delivering the game. In a new report transcribed by Video Game Chronicles, Jeff Grubb’s Grubbsnax show sheds light on a possible alternative that is silently in the pipeline at Microsoft.

They’re working with Certain Affinity on what seems like a Monster Hunter style game – a Monster Hunter clone. They see this gameplay style succeeding, and Microsoft’s like, “hey, we should try to make one of those, is anyone out there going to pitch one?” […] They want more variety in the kinds of games they’re putting on Game Pass and this is an example of that.

“They’re like, ‘we probably can’t get Monster Hunter on Game Pass – that would be pretty expensive – but we definitely want a game like that, because we see the potential for that to grow and be a big thing with long-term support.” And with how the original Scalebound was structured to be a similar experience, it appears its cancellation could be the seeds that sewed for this new, unnamed project.

Additionally, there is also claims of a separate dragon game underway at Microsoft. Previously, Windows Central reported that Hitman team IO Interactive is working on such a project. Given the alias ‘Project Dragon’, the title is told to be a fantasy adventure experience, but, no details have arisen since the initial reporting.

This might be another instance of Microsoft working with a Halo collaborator. Already, Certain Affinity is noted for its work on Halo 2, Halo Reach, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Previously, it was indicated that 343 Industries hired ReclaimerVR modder @nibre_ earlier in 2021. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you interested what this potential Xbox project might become?

Source: Video Game Chronicles