Monster Hunter Generations nails down a July release date

Monster Hunter Generations will be out on Nintendo 3DS July 15, Capcom confirmed in a press release. Earlier this year, the company announced that fans of the action series could expect the game to come stateside this summer.

In honor of the release, Nintendo will release a special handheld based on the game. Fans can now pre-order the blue New Nintendo 3DS XL featuring a Monster Hunter Generations insignia and other detailing for $199.99.

It won't include the game, however. Monster Hunter Generations will be sold separately, as will its Fire Emblem-themed downloadable content. That will give players the chance to use weapons based on Marth, one of the best known heroes from Nintendo's role-playing games.

For Monster Hunter newbies, Capcom will also release a free demo on Nintendo eShop. Expect that download to arrive sometime this summer.

Check out our preview of the new Monster Hunter game, which Japanese fans got last year, in the gameplay video below.