In 2019, the Monster Rancher series saw a revival with a brand-new port of the first game on Apple iOS and Android devices and the Nintendo Switch, but it turns out that the release will go beyond being just a simple port with some bonus features and adapted features. The Monster Rancher Twitter announced that the game is getting a Tournament Mode (presumably for player tournaments), brand-new monsters not in the original Monster Rancher, and other features. Apart from these two things, the Monster Rancher Switch and mobile versions are also getting more save slots, more music CD data, and a change to Versus mode regarding how the 1P side enters the mode.
Originally, it seems that this update would have been pushed out earlier, likely sometime this month, but Koei Tecmo clarified in a tweet that the update will release in April or after due to “various circumstances”, which likely refers to the coronavirus. More information on the update will be announced when the release date for the update is formally decided upon.
The Monster Rancher Switch, Android, and Apple iOS versions are available in Japan. No news has been announced on any Western version of the release. You can watch a trailer for the port in our previous post here.
