Monster Hunter Now, a geolocation game, has shown impressive growth in its first six months, quickly rising to second place among Niantic’s top revenue earners. However, it still has a considerable gap to close in order to match the success of genre-defining game Pokémon Go.
A comparison of lifetime revenues highlights the significant lead that Go holds, with over $6 billion in earnings compared to Monster Hunter Now’s $150 million. It’s important to note that Go has had a seven-year head start, making the comparison slightly unfair.
Despite this, Go’s first six months generated approximately $1 billion, surpassing Monster Hunter Now by a wide margin. However, Monster Hunter Now is not to be underestimated, as it has become one of Japan’s top geolocation games, joining the ranks of other popular titles like Dragon Quest Walk, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Departure, and Pokémon Go.
Furthermore, key metrics, according to AppMagic data, show Monster Hunter Now outperforming Go. For instance, the game generates over $3 more per player compared to Go, with an average revenue of $11.47 per download versus Go’s $8.23.
Another important metric to consider is retention rate, where Monster Hunter Now excels over Go. With higher day one, day seven, and day 30 retention rates, Monster Hunter Now proves to be a game that keeps players engaged for longer periods.
Target (audience) acquired
Unlike Pokémon Go’s global success, Monster Hunter Now has seen the majority of its earnings come from Japan, with the region contributing 71% of the revenue despite only accounting for 35% of the downloads. This emphasizes the game’s appeal to Japanese players, especially fans of Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise, and showcases its strong retention rate, indicating sustained interest from the player base.
With regards to the latest content update, the Monster Hunter Now team has announced a limited-time event scheduled from March 25 to April 7, featuring the Coral Pukei-Pukei and the introduction of new water-based weapons and gear. This event follows the conclusion of the six-month anniversary celebrations.
