The game initially started as Monster Hunter Smart, which Capcom released in Japan in 2013, emphasizing graphics and its hunting on the go aspect.
Capcom released Monster Hunter Explore in only one country outside of Japan, and that was a soft launch in Canada in April 2016.
Capcom announced that one of the first Monster Hunter smartphone games in Monster Hunter Explore is shutting down.
A year later, Monster Hunter Smart was “reborn” as Monster Hunter Explore, focusing on the hunting RPG action and exploration of the new setting on Markja Island.