Just when everybody is flocking with eyes up to Capcom, it made the announcement. Indeed, the collaboration between them and Dave’s Hot Chicken is going to be a mega-winning combination in everyone’s playbook: slaying monsters, and eating ridiculously fiery grubs, soon to find a special Monster Hunter Wilds meal at select locations, along with a chance to take home exclusive memorabilia and prizes. Call it combination-meal heaven!
The tweet is well-rounded with its requisite fiery promotional image of the Monster Hunter Wilds logo and Dave’s trademark neon aesthetic. It better have a Palico-themed dipping sauce; we all know that with the face-melting heat levels that Dave carries, this collab isn’t for the meek- like taking on an Elder Dragon without proper armor prep.
In fact, this makes the partnership all the more interesting as being time-wise. Monster Hunter Wilds is still a very secretive affair (Seriously Capcom, we need a date here), and now this promotion seems to give off the impression that the hype train is rolling off the station. Fast-food tie-ins generally happen much closer to the launch; maybe soon we will be able to sink our teeth into Wilds? Or perhaps Capcom is just looking for ways to make hunters weep while having lunch at a spicy chicken joint.
The contest aspect adds some more FOMO. After all, who doesn’t want that limited-edition piece of Monster Hunter merch? Add in Dave’s fan-favorite chicken, and it can become a worst nightmare for the collectors. Imagine explaining to your friends that you bought 37 spicy chicken sandwiches just to receive a tiny plushie of Zinogre. Worth it? Totally.
Besides, this is certainly not Capcom’s first food-related rodeo, ain’t it? Monster Hunter x Convenience Store Japan tie-ups had such lines that you had no idea how they composed under the weight of it all, standing up to two hours just to buy a stupid rice ball.
But bringing it all the way across the ocean to an aggressive American hot chicken chain seems a power move. Much like Wilds itself, really; taking that classic Monster Hunter formula and cranking it up to dangerous new levels.
Keep your eyes peeled, hunters. Between mysterious hints at the gameplay and their spicy chicken advertising, the Monster Hunter Wilds marketing machine is clearly starting to sizzle. And I’ve got 2 words for you: bring milk. Both for the chicken and for that little bump in difficulty sure to come with Wilds finally releasing.
