Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U, 3DS coming March 19th, demo next month

Capcom today finally announced an official release date for the much anticipated Nintendo 3DS and Wii U releases of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

North American gamers can start their hunt on March 19th, either by picking up a retail copy or downloading it, on either platform, from the Nintendo eShop.

Capcom also confirmed that a demo of both versions would be rolling out next month on February 21st.

The Wii U version will feature voice chat as previously announced, and players will be able to play along with others in a variety of ways, including locally and online, on the 3DS and Wii U.

Read on for the announcement with more details and check out the latest screens of both versions.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Wii U, 3DS screens:

Capcom today confirmed that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the Wii U system and Nintendo 3DS will bring the battle to retail stores in North America on March 19, 2013 and across Europe on March 22, 2013. The full game will also be offered for digital purchase on both systems during this launch timeframe and the Wii U game will fully support the voice chat functionality available on that system. For hunters looking to embark on their journeys sooner, free playable demos on the Wii U system and Nintendo 3DS will be available on February 21.

In Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, players take on the role of a hunter sent to explore a settlement within the Monster Hunter universe, completing quests on their journey to seek and slay monsters while improving their skills and earning equipment upgrades. With many challenging monsters and over 200 quests, the latest addition to the series is set to be the most expansive offering to date. The game can be played alone, online (up to four players) on the Wii U system, or locally using up to four Nintendo 3DS systems or a combination of up to three Nintendo 3DS systems and one Wii U system.