Capcom revealed that its hit Japanese online action game franchise Monster Hunter will be coming to the Xbox 360 in Japan this summer in the form Monster Hunter Frontier.

According to VG247, the publisher "can't announce" if and when the updated title will be coming to Western audiences -- this version of the franchise originally released in 2007 on PC and PlayStation 2, but has never launched outside Japan.

The grind-centric, multiplayer-friendly franchise has sold millions of copies in Japan, where it's particularly popular on the PlayStation Portable -- but has also recently debuted a Wii version, Monster Hunter Tri, which is confirmed for Western release in April.

In the meantime, consumer weblog Kotaku reports that the title's closed beta will start in May 2010 in Japan. When services begin this summer, users will pay ¥1,400 ($15) a month -- a fee that also includes a monthly Xbox Live Gold membership. This means Monster Hunter Frontier players become Gold members for free so long as they subscribe to the MMO.