Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion detailed and dated, includes Master Rank tier of quests

During a special Spring Update broadcast for Monster Hunter World, the massive expansion, Iceborne, finally received new details including information on the Master Rank tier of quests and release date. The massive expansion will include the largest map to date and will give new moves to each of the 14 main weapon types.

The Iceborne expansion builds on every aspect of Monster Hunter: World, starting with an all-new story that picks up after the main game and whisks hunters away to a newly discovered chilly locale called Hoarfrost Reach. The snow-covered terrain offers an ecosystem that contrasts areas in the main game and progressively expands with the story. Iceborne is set to offer the largest region in the game so far, presenting hunters a wealth of new content with even more quests to face than in the original release.

Iceborne also introduces the new higher difficulty Master Rank, a brand-new quest tier that makes new and existing monsters more ferocious than ever. The extreme cold is also the setting for brand new frigid climate foes such as the horned brute wyvern Banbaro and the snow-buried Beotodus. These interweave with returning fan favorites such as the swift-attacking Nargacuga who adds some dangerous new tricks to his trademark move set as he joins the Monster Hunter: World lineup. Leading the pack in Iceborne is the mysterious new flagship monster Velkhana, an elder dragon with powerful ice attacks that is a pervasive threat in the new story.

To access Iceborne, players will need to have completed the main story through Hunter Rank 16. Currently, anyone that preorders the expansion digitally or at participating retails will receive a special Yukumo Series layered armor set. For players that haven’t yet gotten a chance to check out Monster Hunter World, a free trial is available on PlayStation 4 from today until May 20th, 2019. Any saved progress made can be transferred to the main game. For current players, the last new content update for the base game will give Nergigante an Arch-Tempered form for a limited time starting May 11th.

The Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion will be released on September 6th, 2019 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $39.99 or $49.99 as a digital deluxe edition with cosmetic items. A PC version of the expansion will be released this winter. For players that do not own the base game but would like to purchase both at the same time, they have the option to pick up Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition Deluxe which includes the base game, the expansion, and a Steelbook for $79.99. For more information, visit the Capcom Unity blog.