In a recent interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu, Monolith Soft's President Takahashi Tetsuya has discussed developing new content for the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition without having an adverse effect on other projects currently in development.
The game, a high-def remaster of 2010's Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii, is releasing for Switch on 29th May and features a brand new epilogue entitled Future Connected. In the Q&A (which we have translated in full), Takahashi makes mention of a 'new title' that was in development alongside the remaster.
Firstly, Takahashi outlines how the studio divided time between projects when development of the remaster began:
A planning document was created while Xenoblade Chronicles 2 DLC was being produced, and was completed around May 2018. We officially started development in August 2018, after development of Torna – The Golden Country wrapped up. I think in that sense, it could be said that both projects had been progressing alongside each other, but staff was divided three ways – staff working on a new title, staff for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, and staff working on both.
Takahashi mentions this new game again later on:
Famitsu: Can you tell us about the sense of volume in “Future Connected?”
Takahashi: It took me about 10 to 12 hours to finish, so I think it will take players a bit longer to complete the first time. I’d say there’s about 20 hours worth of content in Future Connected, when you include side quests. When you develop DLC, you can increase the volume of the game even more, but with a remaster such as this, it’s just too expensive, and if we put too many resources into developing it, it would have had an impact on developing our new game. We tried to balance the development to be compatible with these limits in mind.
Monolith Soft has grown as a company over the last few years, more than doubling its employee numbers since 2014, and it is helping Nintendo with development of the upcoming sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (much as the company did on the original game). With that in mind, it's very likely Takahashi is referring to the tentatively titled Breath of the Wild 2 when he mentions this 'new game'.
However, there will be many fans hoping that perhaps it's an entirely new entry in the Xenoblade series, or even just a Switch port of Wii U's Xenoblade Chronicles X (although money is apparently the issue with that one). Regardless of the nature of the project, we're eager to sample more of Monolith Soft's fine work.
They helped out on Animal Crossing, too, you know. It seems Monolith is becoming an integral part of Nintendo's developmental inner circle. Do you think this new project is BOTW2, a Xenoblade game, or something else entirely? Let us know in the usual place.
Comments 57
Why does it have to be Breath of the Wild 2 they’re talking about? A couple of years back they were recruiting for a brand new game with a historical fantasy setting? It’s likely whatever that game ends up being, I assume a new IP.
Xenoblade Chronicles X was underrated in my opinion, that game was fun and so easy to completley break, haha.
@FragRed Yeah, that one is the one they’re working on.
I'm happy either way. Monolith Soft are so talented, I don't want to tell them what they should be working on, I am much happier appreciating what they do!
Nintendo is lucky to have this studio.
@BenAV As long as it's both I'm more than ok with it. XD
Wouldn't exactly say Breath of the Wild 2 is a Monolithsoft game. It's likely that IP they were hiring for not too long ago.
Let’s see
The have 5 teams, 2 of those worked on xenoblade games
1 on BOTW
1 on Animal crossing
And 1 on mystery game
MS has three separated divisions: the first one is for the xenoblade games, the second is for the new IP and the last is for helping Nintendo with their games.
From what I have seen from this interview and from other translations, the 3 groups that he speaks about are all part of the 1st development group. That means that the new game that he mentioned is most likely something to do with the xenoblade franchise.
Wouldn't surprise me if the other project he's referring to is the fantasy game talked about a while ago.
The game Monolith soft is currently working on is Xenoblade Chronicles 6. XC 3, 4 and 5 being already 100% ready with an expected metascore over 98 and set to be released by the end of the year... What? A guy can dream.
Wish list:
XenoCollection - Xenogears plus Xenosaga Trilogy... and since it’s a wish list, Xenoblade chronicles X port too.
Soma Bringer comes stateside and gets a sequel.
Baten Kaitos sequel?
Just as long as it's not like Xenoblade Chronicles 2
@Collette YESSS I would love a sequel!
As much as I love Xenoblade (I´d love a deluxe version of X and a sequel), the game they´re focusing on right now MUST be a different thing, if they don´t want to be always stuck with Xenoblade. Either a new IP (more likely) or another of their existing IPs like Baten Kaitos or Soma Bringer.
These guys are awesome, so whatever they do it will be fine!
@Collette they actually have 5 teams on 4 different locations
And I am really pumped for their A team project
@FragRed Didn't that concept art also contain Zelda references? Pretty sure I saw some analysis that showed the Triforce or Hylian crest on some of the columns or something like that.
We know for a fact an new IP fantasy ARPG was starting around the time that interview was referring to, it has to be that.
@ZeldaLord They're up to 5 now (they opened two new offices post-Torna), one more for supporting EPD, no idea what the other is up to.
I'm wicked excited to replay XC1 on the Switch. The core concept of the console is perfect for huge rpgs like that. I'd also love a port of XCX and a sequel to that game. Whatever they do, I hope they ditch the lame slow cumbersome combat mechanics of XC2. Great story don't get me wrong, and I did enjoy the game for the story and its characters, but the combat was ponderous and got old too fast. I prefer my XC1 and XCX arts pallete and the fact that your character doesn't stop auto-attacking when you reposition him or her to take advantage of position-specific critical hits (like slit edge from the side or back slash from the back). I know there was some of that in XC2, but it felt like Rex was trying to run through mud when he had his weapon out and you tried to move him around the enemy. And he stopped auto-attacking! Which is the dumbest combat mechanic I've ever heard of. OK maybe that was a little over the top, but it's definitely the dumbest combat mechanic in a Xenoblade game and XC2 is by far my least favorite in the series.
@ezaya I recognise your avatar 👀👀👀👀
Nice stuff my dood
What we do know...is that it is something else.
so when do we get Xeno X? That's the only Wii U game I want that is still stranded on Wii U
I'd love a sequel to X, but a new IP would be awesome too.
Even tho XC2 was kinda underwhelming compared to almost any other xeno game, there hasn't been a game I dislike from monolith soft yet
If it's a new ip, im sure itd turn out fun, but I'm also hoping its more Xenoblade goodness
Great, what publishers need to do.
Tons of publishers are just spending their time porting the old games in a series to Switch and not releasing the new Stuff.
Expectation: Monolith is remaking FF6 with full support from Square Enix and Nintendo.
Reality: New Xenoblade Chronicles (probably X2) and maybe some assistance with BOTW 2.
I hope it is Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition or Xenoblade Chronicles 3
@Judal27 XCH 2 is an amazing game I do not really understand your hate.
@Debo626 One of the reasons why Xenoblade Chronicles was funny to look at (not in a positive way) was that everything in there felt so weightless, as if everything was made from paper. This is also related to the combat system which allowed to move your character without breaking auto-attacking. It just did not feel right. XCH 2 is much better in this aspect as you finally feel the weight of the characters and attacking. It's just much better.
It's obvious they're working on a mobile game featuring blades from Xenoblade 2 and a gatcha mechanic that increases their chest size based on rarity.
I’m in America, so I never got a chance to play Disaster: Day of Crisis. I’ve never heard anyone say it was amazing or a must play. But I would love for a small team to bring over that weird, lost Monolith gem
High fantasy is my favorite RPG setting, so I am very excited for Monolith to release their new fantasy IP. It's just harder for me to fully appreciate Xenoblade's neon sci-fi Phantasy Star Online aesthetic.
I am wildly imagining an ambitious XCX-like mech flying mechanic in this new IP, except with majestic dragons, like in the concept art teased years ago. I cannot wait. I hope to anything that we only have another year~ to go.
@Donutsavant I played Monolith Soft's Disaster: Day of Crisis (I am in Europe) and I loved every minute of it. Actually I finished it three times. So here you are: the first ever person to say this game was amazing
@graysoncharles I wonder if he was also responsible for not wanting to release in the US, the 1st Xenoblade and the other 2 RPG's of that time.
@graysoncharles I remember the Operation Rainfall. Well, I am sure he found out at that time that he can also make bad judgements.
Ps: Last Story was pretty awesome.
What ever the game ends up as I am sure it will be great, a very hard working developer for sure.
Retro studios should take note.
@Donutsavant I remember that it was an amazing fun and unique game when I played it! I didn’t know it was from Monolith Soft .... it figures why it was so good!
(It could be better in a modern console)
@Cosats gotta agree.... I loved that game ... I actually finished it three times too to unlock everything!
@Cosats Yes, The Last Story was an excellent game.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - my wish
I kind of hope they’re working on BOTW 2 because I am really wanting to see with this new dark Zelda is going to be like. Still I really wanna see a new Xenoblade as long as the main character ain’t silent like in X or a gating issue like there was with the blades in 2.
@benchan come on its Xenoblade 3 so they’ll triple it and they’ll be so embarrassingly designed it’ll receive a M rating.
@BlackenedHalo I don't hate it, I just think it's one of the weaker xeno titles. And that's mainly due to the story being very generic especially during the 1st half where it's tropes and cliches straight out of a shounen like fairy tail.
There's issues with it's gameplay mechanics as well but overall, I still liked it enough for it to be one of my favorite games on the switch so far. But the superior XC1 is almost out anyway lol
I enjoy the Xenoblade games, but I hope their new project is a new I.P. It'd be terrific to get another brand new Nintendo-exclusive JRPG property on the Switch besides Octopath Traveler.
Cant believe so few people have mentioned this but the concept art of the 'new IP ' that leaked a few years ago was for a zelda (or at least zelda inspired) rpg spin off. The hylian crests were clear. I'd love monolith soft to be working on that.
@Kalmaro It wasn't underrated in my eyes. I thought it was technically impressive but they gameplay was BORING!
@TheFox Gameplay for me got more exciting when I started learning combos that make you basically invincible and clearing rooms.
I have always felt Xenoblade is amazing as a story across the games to the level that a series or part one and two movie could be made. I would be stoked if dreams come true and we get (since it seems Nintendo has started to move onto the next chapter from Directs) we get a silent drop of XB 3 bundled with a Switch 2.0/Pro.
Monolith Soft has 3 development teams:
> Production Group 1 (Tokyo) works on Xenoblade
> Production Group 2 (Tokyo) works on Zelda alongside Nintendo EPD and possibly a new IP
> Production Group (Kyoto) works on asset development for other Nintendo EPD games, such as Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and Pikmin
I personally want X2-- After the way X ended, I need to know what comes next. But I'd be content seeing X get a port for those that missed out, too. Very underrated.
@ezaya as much as i love them (i have all their games. Minus disaster day of crisis) they are the lucky ones being bought by Nintendo
I'll take a look at anything they put out, but am mostly hoping for a totally new IP. Two Xenoblade games on the Switch, plus Torna, is enough for my taste. I'd love to see what else they can do.
I hope that it's Breath of the Wild 2. But I hope they will release the full game without any DLC, and no more paywalls. I also hope that it actually follows the story of Breath of the Wild 1. It has to take place after Breath of the Wild 1, where we can fully restore Hyrule. For example, we should be able to gather materials to repair Hyrule Castle, and help people repair their homes. Also it could combine with the history of Skyward Sword. They could even call the game Breath of the Skies, where we could travel in the skies. For example, they could introduce winged horses/flying horses, so we could travel from Skyloft to Hyrule. My point is, I want a good Zelda-game, and I want a full non-DLC game.
It's too bad the game did not come out yesterday, I could have taken advantage of the long weekend. 🙂
Their new project seems to be really ambitious - so much they're spending all the budget on that one. It's understandable then they put some limits with their work on XC: DE. And yeah, their new game is definitely something new, I knew they were working on something new for a long time, and unlike XC2, this one seems to be built from scratch with a new rendering engine. It'll surely be exciting
@ezaya Oni Chi Chi ah I see that you are also a man of culture
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