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Monster Hunter Stories 3 DLC: what the Rudy side story adds, the free Royal Monsters update and every add-on price
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection has one story DLC, Additional Side Story: Rudy, which came out on June 25, 2026, and costs $9.99. It follows Rudy, the protagonist's Palico, who comes face to face with Navirou, the Felyne from the earlier Stories games and Rudy's legendary ancestor, and it adds a battle against Nergigante. It opens after the first half of the main story. The same day, a free update added a harder final battle and powerful Royal Monsters across the world, plus free accessories. The rest of the paid DLC is cosmetic, from $1.49 Monster Hair to the $24.99 Deluxe Kit. Capcom hasn't announced another DLC. Expected price for a next story DLC is about $9.99, our estimate.
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
- Switch 2
Monster Hunter Stories 3 has one story DLC, Additional Side Story: Rudy, and it costs $9.99. Here’s what the side story adds, what the free update brought and what every edition and add-on costs.
Does Monster Hunter Stories 3 have DLC?
Yes. Additional Side Story: Rudy came out on June 25, 2026, for $9.99, about three months after Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launched on March 13, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Switch 2 and PC. It’s the game’s only story DLC.
The rest of the paid DLC is cosmetic: layered armor for the cast, Monster Hair for Monsties and outfits for Rudy. Capcom also gives away free accessories and one free layered armor set.
What the Rudy side story adds
Rudy is the protagonist’s loyal Palico, from a family that has served as Azurian Royal Palicoes for generations. While accompanying the protagonist on a survey of egg quartz, Rudy makes a surprising discovery, and after getting caught up in one of the strange happenings around the world, comes face to face with Navirou.
Navirou is the Felyne from the earlier Stories games, and the side story reveals that Navirou is Rudy’s illustrious ancestor, the Legendary Felyne said to have saved the world alongside a Rider and their Rathalos. The side story also brings the fearsome Nergigante, a formidable foe you battle but can’t make a Monstie, and Navirou shares a deep connection with it.
How to start Side Story: Rudy
The side story opens after you play through the first half of the main story. Once it’s available, talk to Rudy when a yellow icon appears over Rudy’s head. The DLC needs the latest patch, and on PC it takes about 1 GB of free space.
The free Royal Monsters update
The same day, Capcom released the free Ver. 1.1.0.0 update. Load a save made after finishing the game and you get a harder version of the final battle. Beat it, and powerful Royal Monsters start appearing across the world, marked with a crown icon above their heads and in the Monsterpedia, so you can track which ones you’ve defeated. Calamitous Elder Dragons and invasive monsters can appear as Royal Monsters too.
The update came with free accessories, and a bug fix, Ver. 1.1.0.1, followed on PC on July 3, 2026. Capcom’s free add-ons include Layered Armor for Simon: Wind Wyvern’s Friend and seven accessories: the Gold Circlet, Pearl Earrings, Crystalline Ornament, Royal Monocle, Fang Talisman, Protective Band and Ornament of Bonds.
Every edition and add-on price
On Steam, the game costs $69.99, the Deluxe Edition $89.99 and the Premium Deluxe Edition $99.99. The Deluxe Edition adds the $24.99 Deluxe Kit, which bundles the Rudy side story with the $19.99 Special Outfits Set: layered armor for Eleanor, Gaul, Kora, Ogden and Thea, three Monster Hair styles and four Rudy outfits. The Premium Deluxe Edition also adds the $19.99 DLC Pack, with five more layered armor sets, six Monster Hair styles and five Rudy outfits.
Smaller packs cost $5.99 for the Monster Hair DLC Pack, $8.99 for Rudy’s Outfits DLC Pack and $12.99 for the Ranger Outfits DLC Set. On the Nintendo US store, single items cost $1.49 for a Monster Hair style, $2.99 for a Rudy outfit and $3.49 for a layered armor set, and the Deluxe Edition was on sale for $59.39 and the Premium Deluxe Edition for $69.99. The 102-song Original Soundtrack costs $24.99 on Steam. These were the prices on Oct. 19, 2026.
Will Monster Hunter Stories 3 get more DLC?
Capcom hasn’t announced another DLC. Its latest Monster Hunter Stories 3 post marked the series' 10th anniversary on Oct. 8, 2026. Expected price for a next story DLC: about $9.99, our estimate, the price of the Rudy side story. The free Trial Version still covers the start of the story up to level 10, and its save carries over to the full game.
For Capcom’s main Monster Hunter game, see our Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance release date and Monster Hunter Wilds on Switch 2 pages, and for its other big 2026 game with add-ons, our Resident Evil Requiem DLC page. For another monster-taming RPG with a big expansion coming, see our Digimon Story Time Stranger DLC page.
This page is updated as soon as Capcom announces new Monster Hunter Stories 3 DLC or a new update.
FAQ
Does Monster Hunter Stories 3 have DLC?
Yes. The only story DLC is Additional Side Story: Rudy, released on June 25, 2026, for $9.99. The other paid add-ons are cosmetic, such as layered armor, Monster Hair and Rudy outfits, and Capcom also gives away free accessories.
What is the Rudy DLC in Monster Hunter Stories 3?
A side story about Rudy, whose family has served as Azurian Royal Palicoes for generations. While surveying egg quartz, Rudy makes a surprising discovery and ends up face to face with Navirou, the legendary Felyne from the earlier Stories games and Rudy’s ancestor.
How much is the Monster Hunter Stories 3 Rudy DLC?
$9.99 on Steam and the Nintendo US store on Oct. 19, 2026. It’s also part of the $24.99 Deluxe Kit and of the Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Editions.
How do you start the Rudy side story?
Play through the first half of the main story, then talk to Rudy when a yellow icon appears over Rudy’s head. The DLC needs the latest patch and about 1 GB of space on PC.
Can you get Nergigante as a Monstie in Monster Hunter Stories 3?
Nergigante appears in Side Story: Rudy as a formidable foe to battle, and Capcom says you can’t make it a Monstie. Navirou shares a deep connection with it, which the side story explains.
What are Royal Monsters in Monster Hunter Stories 3?
Powerful versions of monsters, marked with a crown icon, added in the free Ver. 1.1.0.0 update. They appear across the world once you beat the harder version of the final battle on a cleared save, and they include Calamitous Elder Dragons and invasive monsters.
Does the Monster Hunter Stories 3 DLC add new Monsties?
Capcom hasn’t added new Monsties through DLC. The Rudy side story adds Nergigante as a foe, and the free update added tougher Royal Monster battles instead.
What's in the Monster Hunter Stories 3 Deluxe Kit?
Additional Side Story: Rudy and the Special Outfits Set, which has layered armor for Eleanor, Gaul, Kora, Ogden and Thea, three Monster Hair styles and four Rudy outfits. It costs $24.99.
What's the difference between the Deluxe and Premium Deluxe Editions?
The $89.99 Deluxe Edition adds the Deluxe Kit to the game. The $99.99 Premium Deluxe Edition also adds the DLC Pack, with five more layered armor sets, six Monster Hair styles and five Rudy outfits, which costs $19.99 on its own.
Is there free DLC for Monster Hunter Stories 3?
Yes. Layered Armor for Simon: Wind Wyvern’s Friend has been free since launch, and Capcom has released seven free accessories, including the Gold Circlet, Pearl Earrings and Royal Monocle.
Will Monster Hunter Stories 3 get more DLC?
Capcom hasn’t announced more. Its latest Monster Hunter Stories 3 posts celebrated the series' 10th anniversary on Oct. 8, 2026. Expected price for a next story DLC: about $9.99, our estimate.
When did Monster Hunter Stories 3 come out?
On March 13, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Switch 2 and PC. On Steam, it unlocked at 9 p.m. PT on March 12.
Is there a Monster Hunter Stories 3 demo?
Yes. The free Trial Version covers the start of the story up to level 10, and your save carries over to the full game.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
Which legendary Felyne does Rudy meet in the Monster Hunter Stories 3 DLC?
Side Story: Rudy reveals that Rudy’s illustrious ancestor is Navirou, the Felyne from the earlier Stories games.
Your call
Have you played the Rudy side story?
