Monolith Soft, the developer behind Xenoblade Chronicles, has built a new studio in Kyoto, Japan so it can be closer to Nintendo. It is now in the process of developing a Wii U game that was briefly teased during a recent Nintendo Direct.
Speaking in an internal interview series, translated by Siliconera, the company revealed that many of its staffers had concerns about the idea of moving to Kyoto, but that all of these worries had now dissolved. It appears the developer is quite happy in its new home and says that meetings with Nintendo have increased drastically since the move.
Monolith Soft has been in Kyoto now for about a year, and Nintendo has been actively consulting on its work and has consistently provided feedback with ideas on how to make things better. The developer said it was amazed by Nintendo’s ability to work together as a team, and believes it’s a major asset to producing quality games. Seeing this teamwork has inspired Monolith Soft to bring the same culture to its own development practices.
Designer, Shoko Fukuchi, says that the developer now makes people feel included by doing things like asking programmers for ideas - something that did not happen in the past.
Monolith Soft says it now has a new outlook when developing games. The team at the studio are working closer together not only as co-workers, but as a family with the common goal of developing fantastic games.
Are you getting excited about Monolith Soft's upcoming games? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source siliconera.com, via monolithsoft.co.jp]
Comments 47
That's good. I know I am.
I'm looking forward to their new game the way I used to look forward to the next Final Fantasy game.
@Reala: Hopefully with less disappointment this time
BUY THEM NINTENDO BUY THEM!!!!
Shouldn't all of this have been happening anyway seeing as Nintendo owns the studio. I imagine that there would be video conferences almost everyday and sharing resources through something like Google Docs and Office 365.
@JactheRipper They kind of already did.
Genuinely excited for their next game. I imagine it's a long way off, but Nintendo's backing will allow them to take as long as they need to get it right. It would be nice to have a 3DS game from them too, but I'm not going to get my hopes up for that.
@Peach64 might want to check this its only a pic but it does show they are working on a 3DS game https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/02/monolith_softs_3ds_title_makes_an_intriguing_appearance
Cool. It's good to ask the little guys (the programmers) what they think as well. It raises morale
@JactheRipper They already did. Namco sold them to Nintendo a few years back. They are a 1st party development team for Nintendo now.
@MrWalkieTalkie Ahh didn't know that. That's good news!
Super excited for new Xenoblade Sequel! Trailer looked epic!
I am just starting to play Xenoblade, as my Wii could not handle it so I am using my Wii U now. I know I have like a 100 hours to go but I am very happy thinking what they could do with a more powerful system.
It is also good to hear they are happier now at their work, as that will make them pour even more love into their products.
Really glad to hear this. Monolith Soft is such a huge asset to Nintendo. It's good to know that, while other third-party JRPG's might not make it to Nintendo systems, we can at least count on some solid games from Monolith.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they create in the future.
Ah, this is good to hear. There future games will be awesome!
I genuinely hope for all the success for Monolith. Just...all of it.
Yes, the new game looks fab from what we've seen thus far. I wouldn't mind an HD retread of Xenoblade Chronicles as well. I've never put that much time into a single playthrough of a game so all due credit to their writing and design on that brilliant title!
I cant wait for ''X'' It looks like a combination of Xenoblade, Monster Hunter, and Transformers which makes it look so unique and fun! Definately want to see what its real name is!
I am expecting good things from this studio. Very. Good. Things.
Can we get a reprint of Xenoblade then
I wish Nintendo would buy Vigil Games as well and get them in close...
Dang it, I first thought this article was gonna have more info on X!
Very excited especially after the the teaser from the last Nintendo Direct
Great I'm looking forward to that new RPG that had planned for Wii U and hopefully they more titles planned after that too.
@ngamer155 It's not suprising, but X is more like more upgraded version of Xenoblade and Xenogears (one of the best jRPGs and Monolith made it). So I'm not gonna be schocked if there would be more connections to Xenogears not only about Dolls (that's the names of the mechs in X). i'm really curious if there's gonna be a 3 player co-op a'la Monster Hunter style with drop-in, drop-out connection. God can't wait to hear more about X and a new title from Monolith that's coming to 3DS :]
This is the one reason I'm even considering a WiiU so yes im excited.
Nice!, great stuff after hearing all those bad news about the lack of third party support for the wii U. These are the third party developers we should really care about.
@Eternal-Cyprees oh AWESOME!!!!
I'd love to see a new Baten Kaitos.
On another note, why do so many people think they are a third party developer?
Can't wait for Monolith Soft's next game on Wii U. It looks awesome.
@mookysam Well they used to be a third party developer until 2007...so, maybe they are 6 years behind the news?
Yes, yes I am. Nuff said.
@JactheRipper Nintendo already owns them
there first party now guys take that other companies : )
@Supermarioman
This. I don't want to hunt for a used copy.
Cool that they're working together and sharing ideas like this. Reminds me of J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Sequel or at least in the vein of Xenoblade would be outstanding!
I'll be watching w/ interest @ their newest projects, & taking a peek @ their older ones.
Put more time into Xenoblade than any other game, over 96 hrs. Can't wait to see what they produce next.
So am I. One of the only talents left in the JRPG world.
i love Monolith soft, so nintendo did good by buying them, and for xenogears thats just great, i hope they put on of the characters in Smashbros.
Cant wait for E3.
That,s so good.
i hope where going to see more of Monolith's New IP X on E3 looks awesome can't wait to play it
Yeah!
This means less development time.
Looking forward to this i missed Xenoblade Chronicles but i might pick it up at somepoint and i'm excited to try whatever they're currently working on is.
I guess it depends on the context of the interview but I find it odd that this is news. There again, what do I know about how a big publisher manages its first party studios?
Monolith has a brilliant team and being closer to big brother nintendo (the good kind not the government eyeing your every move kind) will only help them refine their expertise . I look forward to spending another couple of hundred hours on one of their masterpieces .
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