Monster Hunter Portable 3rd sells 2 million

Any doubts about the enduring popularity of the Monster Hunter series in Japan were erased this past week. That's when Monster Hunter Freedom 3, known as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd in the island nation, sold 2 million units since going on sale December 1. The shipments appear to be even ahead of publisher Capcom's optimistic estimates, which predict the PSP game will eventually sell 3.6 million units. Since 2004, the Monster Hunter series has sold more than 15 million units, mostly in Japan.

A sequel to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (known as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G in Japan), Monster Hunter Portable 3rd offers new hunting areas and monstrous prey. It also sports a new Feylene system, which lets players customize their companions' equipment loadouts when embarking on hunts. The game also sports the same ad hoc co-op mode that has made the series so popular in Japan.

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd has no US release date as of yet. For a closer look at the game, check out its trailer from this year's Tokyo Game Show, viewable below.