The game will update the core mechanics of the series

Sep 21, 2012 08:14 GMT  ·  By

Video game publisher Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter 4 will be launched on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan during January of 2013.

The new game is designed as a complete follow-up to Monster Hunter 3, which was first introduced on the Nintendo Wii during 2009 and has since been ported to a variety of other platforms.

Players will get the same core gameplay elements but more monsters, more variety when it comes to how they can be defeated and a new number of weapons to play around with.

Capcom also recently revealed that it was working on an Ultimate version of Monster Hunter 3, which will be launched on the 3DS and the upcoming Wii U before the end of 2013.

Monster Hunter is one of the most popular gaming franchises in Japan and the game has only received limited localized version for the Western market.

The Wii U will arrive in Japan on December 8.