Xbox is reportedly working on a Monster Hunter-like exclusive, codenamed Project Suerte, with Halo Infinite co-developer Certain Affinity.
Reported first by journalist Jeff Grubb and backed up by Windows Central, the new game has apparently been in development since 2020 and is slated for release in 2023 or 2024. According to Grubb, Microsoft actively courted developers for a game like Monster Hunter after deciding the Capcom series would be too expensive to add to Game Pass. Other details remain under wraps.
Certain Affinity has worked previously as a support studio on the Halo and Call of Duty series, and has a particular speciality for multiplayer projects. Given that Monster Hunter is built somewhat around co-op boss battles, it seems a neat fit.
Last year, Certain Affinity announced that it was working on an ‘ambitious’ new game. “Today we’re excited to reveal that we’re leading development on a new original IP,” read a statement at the time. “Are we excited to take on a genre and style of game that we’ve always loved? Thrilled beyond words!”
Aside from the ones we already know about, multiple rumours have sprung up regarding unannounced Xbox exclusives in the last year. We’ve previously heard about a Southern Gothic adventure from We Happy Few developer Compulsion, a narrative RPG from Obsidian, and a fantasy game from Hitman developer Io Interactive.
That’s to say nothing of the huge slate Xbox has coming up, including Starfield, Avowed, and Redfall – not to mention possible Activision Blizzard exclusives down the line.
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.