CAPCOM : Monster Hunter Stories Utilized in Osaka Prefectural Police's Vehicle-related Crime Awareness Campaign! - Capcom IP contributes to prevention of vehicle crime -

Capcom Co., Ltd. (Capcom) today announced that Monster Hunter Stories will be featured on promotional goods in the Osaka Prefectural Police's vehicle-related crime awareness campaign.

The Monster Hunter series consists of hunting action games that pit players against giant monsters in a beautiful natural environment. The series has sparked a social phenomenon known as the 'Monster Hunter Craze' by introducing a new kind of communication style for players through cooperative play focused on hunting monsters with their friends. Since the first Monster Hunter title made its debut thirteen years ago in 2004, the series has attracted a dedicated fan base, and overall grown into a mega-hit with cumulative sales of more than 40 million units worldwide as of June 30, 2017.

Representing this year's campaign is Monster Hunter Stories, the first RPG of the series, which was released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in 2016. The game takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it, with a story featuring heroes known as Monster Riders who live alongside monsters and form bonds with them. Further, the animated TV show Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON is currently airing to positive reviews on the Fuji Television Network, among others, in Japan.

Since 2013, Capcom has worked with Osaka Prefectural Police, as well as with the police forces of neighboring prefectures, to implement vehicle-related theft prevention campaigns. Compared to the last year* in particular, this has contributed to a reduction in the number of incidents of motor vehicle theft, vehicle break-ins and vehicle parts theft (where one part of a car, such as its license plate, is stolen); however, compared with other prefectures, vehicle-related crime remains prevalent in the Osaka Prefecture. In particular, for 2016 Osaka ranked highest in the country for the number of automobile break-ins and vehicle parts thefts.

As Capcom looks to support crime prevention activities in Osaka, Monster Hunter Stories will be featured in the package design of this year's promotional 'car cleaners' (wet wipes used for car interiors), distributed by the Osaka Prefectural Police and The General Insurance Association of Japan to raise awareness of the 'Prefectural Free Anti-theft License Plate Screw Installation Campaign.' Three-thousand packets of car cleaners will be distributed, both at prefectural police departments and at the campaign event, scheduled for October 14, 2017.

Capcom is committed to serving as a responsible corporate citizen and will continue to conduct proactive CSR activities that include the use of its games to invigorate communities and contribute to society.

*As of the end of August, 2017

[Goods to be distributed]

[Incidents of Crime (as of the end of August 2017)] (by occurrence)

*Based on Japanese government statistics and Osaka Prefectural Police presentation materials

*Monster Hunter Stories Ver1.2 Update released on July 27, 2017 in Japan

*Nintendo 3DS is a trademark of Nintendo Co., Ltd.