Kartina
THE PROCESS WON
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I mean, there's hope for any new game from monolith, it doesn't mean that it will be a new action IP.
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StarTopic Monolith Soft Development and Speculation |ST|
- Thread starter TheGreatLugia
- Start date
pachamelon
Rattata
It must be an action game because two weeks ago they launched the job offer, which we know is not for Xenoblade (they refer to Xenoblade in another way) or for Zelda (the game was already finished).
We'll see what happens. In the end, neither Xenoblade 3 nor TOTK have settled the Honne mystery.
We'll see what happens. In the end, neither Xenoblade 3 nor TOTK have settled the Honne mystery.
rickyson33
"The Baby"
hasn't Monolith helped with franchises other than Zelda in the past as well? aside from the possibility of something like a Zelda DLC that job offer could also easily be for some other support project entirely, or hell maybe they're just preemptively staffing up for the next Zelda game after TotK or something
people are far too quick in general to use stuff like this as proof for stuff
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Monolith Kyoto have assisted on series like Pikmin, Animal Crossing and Splatoon; but this position is for Tokyo so we can safely rule that out.
TheMoon
(not a sphere)
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they're listed in the OP btw if you're ever really unsure
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Already working on BotW3 which is secretly Soma Bringer 2, obviously.
Apopheniac
Monolith Soft action game truther
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Taking another glance through the TotK credits, this doesn't seem too out of line with what we had expected? Monolith Soft did put about twice as many people on TotK as they did on BotW, though the increase still isn't proportional to the studio's recent growth. For BotW, we know that Monolith Soft staff worked on the game between 2015 and 2016, and while we don't know timeframes for what people were doing for TotK, a number of artists worked on both TotK and Xenoblade during the past several years, so not all of the staff have been working exclusively on TotK. Some of that is because Monolith Soft had to grow in order to reach its staff counts, but there does still appear to be a significant contingent unaccounted for.
MetalLord
Paratroopa
Sorry for the roller coaster but those 2 contractors worked on monolith game for 3 years and it was not xenoblade 3 or TOTK,they only got a special thanks for TOTK
The monolith section of the special thanks is quite massive
Daiki Tsuneyama
Eri Morimoto
Erina Masuzawa
Hideki Tanaka
Hiroki Nara
Hiroyuki Kubota
Jo Morita
Kango Hokama
Kazuma Ichimiya
Kazune Kasuya
Kei Watanabe
Mariko Tsuchiya
Masahiro Takei
Masaki Tanaka
Naoki Hirai
Naoya Tamura
Norihiro Takami
Saeko Kawahara
Shinji Koide
Shuhei Arai
Shun Tamamori
Shuta Miyahara
Tadahiro Usuda
Taiyo Suezaki
Takafumi Hori
Takahiro Kawashima
Taku Yamada
Takumi Koresawa
Tatsuro Mikami
Tetsuya Amabiki
Tomoki Inaba
Toru Honbu
Wataru Inata
Wataru Katsuo
Yasunori Nakagawa
Yu Ohashi
Yuichiro Tsumita
Yuji Takemura
Yuki Kuwano
Yuta Kobayashi
Yutaro Nishida
Monolith Contractors
Ayaka Ando
Arashi Matsuoka
Dongryong Min
Hiroyoshi Osawa
Hiroyuki Soga
Kazuki Kitahara
Kiyoshi Kunimori
Kunio Aoki
Masaru Nishimura
Toshihisa Nikaido
Sachie Yamaguchi
Sakio Inoue
Shotaro Ohno
Takehiro Imai
Toyoharu Moriyama
Yusuke Ogawa
Ryota Sasaki
The blue names worked on Xenoblade 3 , the red left the studio
TOTK + Xenoblade 3 i counted around 220,its less than we expected but theres some staff that worked on neither
I need to remember there was an action game cancelled in 2016,so its not like they havent tried making other projects
Shingo Kawabata produced Xenoblade X and his next credit was TOTK, thats a 8 year gap beetween games,if theres another project he is probably in involved somehow considering he directed Soma Bringer
The monolith section of the special thanks is quite massive
Daiki Tsuneyama
Eri Morimoto
Erina Masuzawa
Hideki Tanaka
Hiroki Nara
Hiroyuki Kubota
Jo Morita
Kango Hokama
Kazuma Ichimiya
Kazune Kasuya
Kei Watanabe
Mariko Tsuchiya
Masahiro Takei
Masaki Tanaka
Naoki Hirai
Naoya Tamura
Norihiro Takami
Saeko Kawahara
Shinji Koide
Shuhei Arai
Shun Tamamori
Shuta Miyahara
Tadahiro Usuda
Taiyo Suezaki
Takafumi Hori
Takahiro Kawashima
Taku Yamada
Takumi Koresawa
Tatsuro Mikami
Tetsuya Amabiki
Tomoki Inaba
Toru Honbu
Wataru Inata
Wataru Katsuo
Yasunori Nakagawa
Yu Ohashi
Yuichiro Tsumita
Yuji Takemura
Yuki Kuwano
Yuta Kobayashi
Yutaro Nishida
Monolith Contractors
Ayaka Ando
Arashi Matsuoka
Dongryong Min
Hiroyoshi Osawa
Hiroyuki Soga
Kazuki Kitahara
Kiyoshi Kunimori
Kunio Aoki
Masaru Nishimura
Toshihisa Nikaido
Sachie Yamaguchi
Sakio Inoue
Shotaro Ohno
Takehiro Imai
Toyoharu Moriyama
Yusuke Ogawa
Ryota Sasaki
The blue names worked on Xenoblade 3 , the red left the studio
TOTK + Xenoblade 3 i counted around 220,its less than we expected but theres some staff that worked on neither
I need to remember there was an action game cancelled in 2016,so its not like they havent tried making other projects
Shingo Kawabata produced Xenoblade X and his next credit was TOTK, thats a 8 year gap beetween games,if theres another project he is probably in involved somehow considering he directed Soma Bringer
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Dark Cloud
Warpstar Knight
Special thanks to everyone here
pachamelon
Rattata
220 including special thanks?
MetalLord
Paratroopa
no,but 220 + the 28 from special thanks + the missing staff from Definitive Edition is around 260, monolith current staff number it looks like we kind tracked it all
pachamelon
Rattata
Then there is only the mystery of Honne and the two employees from your previous post who have worked on something and what is unknown.
Too short staffed for a Honne project, unless they've been going TOTK there as they finished Zelda and have outsourced more.
Would the Xeno1 HD employees have joined him or maybe they were deciding the future of Xenoblade after 3?
Too short staffed for a Honne project, unless they've been going TOTK there as they finished Zelda and have outsourced more.
Would the Xeno1 HD employees have joined him or maybe they were deciding the future of Xenoblade after 3?
Apopheniac
Monolith Soft action game truther
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It is interesting that the aforementioned programmers weren't working on XC3. As far as we know, Koh Kojima is just starting work on XC4, so they wouldn't be on that. Could've started another remake, perhaps, or they're doing general R&D.
We also haven't seen much of anything from Tadashi Nomura, who was said to be running the Osaki office a few years back. He produced XCX and XC1, but Hagiwara produced XCs 2 and 3. Nomura got Special Thanks on BotW and TotK, but otherwise hasn't shown up since XCX. Maybe he's just been doing all the hiring, but it is notable.
The extent of the Special Thanks on TotK is unusual, particularly with all of the Monolith Soft people. I wonder if that lends credence to the idea that development on other games, including another Monolith Soft project, was disrupted due to the need to put out Zelda fires. It would make sense for TotK followed by XC3 to take precedence over a secret third thing.
AoiHana
NINTENDOOMED
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Long post.
Seems like Monolith Soft staff were once again mostly involved in the level design and art direction departments. Not 100% sure, but I think I spotted some artists who pulled double duty on Xenoblade 3 and TOTK, too.
That means they have a decent number of programmers and designers that… probably aren’t doing anything right now, which is a little weird. We’ll have to see what the BK Remastered credits look like to see where they might have gone (or maybe they helped out on some other Nintendo projects? IDK.)
At any rate, even if they haven’t been doing the Action Game
for the past 5 and a half years (it was always a long shot… 
) they’re clearly working on something else. Whether it’s Baten Kaitos, Xenoblade 4/X2/Y/Versus/“We Put KOS-MOS In This One” or a whole new IP, God only knows. We don’t know what that UI action game design contract was for, anyway, but right now I’m leaning towards something Xenoblade-flavoured.Finally, the way Honne is credited in this combined with the number of art staffers makes me wonder if maybe the “Special Thanks” credit means he oversees Monolith Tokyo’s PG2 art team now or something. Would be disappointing if so (I want him to make something new, dammit!) but at the very least it means he’s thriving at the company.
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Dunno if it'll help you, but my glass-half-full take is "The Monolith action game exists, and it turns out to be the sequel to the top game on Switch."
eye0h
"aggressively persue a multiplatform strategy"
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I agree, xenoblade chronicles 3 is the top game on switch XD
Apopheniac
Monolith Soft action game truther
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They weren't, though I don't believe their involvement on XCs X or 2 qualifies as heavy, at least in comparison to other outsourced companies. They had about ten people listed in XC2's credits for graphics support.
OP
OP
I don't think tri-Ace was in XC3's credits, but a lot of other support studios were in XC3's credits similar to XCX and XC2.
For the record I'm not sure if tri-Ace on their own were heavily involved in the games. They had 6 staff credited on XCX and 10 staff credited on XC2.
Instro
Like Like
Ah I couldn't remember the break down there, I was thinking that it was a larger portion of tri-ace involved.
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- Hmmm
I don't understand why people lost hope in the action game when on the recruitment page it clearly says it is in production.
I would say that Monolith Soft's action game is their most ambitious project and will be released on Nintendo's next console (in 2024).
- Before: https://web.archive.org/web/20221018234037/https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/recruit/special/
- After: https://web.archive.org/web/2023012...lithsoft.co.jp/recruit/production/action.html
- Now: https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/recruit/production/action.html
- Before: https://web.archive.org/web/20190328125206/https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/recruit/production02/
- Now: https://www.monolithsoft.co.jp/recruit/production/zelda.html
I would say that Monolith Soft's action game is their most ambitious project and will be released on Nintendo's next console (in 2024).
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These were amusing to read back to back lol
(I know the point of a reimagining would be to make it different, but still)
TheMoon
(not a sphere)
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you're not gonna see MLS staff like programmers in the Baten Kaitso project that Bamco is doing without any direct Nintendo involvement (Bamco is publishing this, they're not even using Nintendo's voice localization for BKO). I don't see them doing anything other than supervision on a project like that. Definitely nothing that requires programming staff and the like.Long post.
Seems like Monolith Soft staff were once again mostly involved in the level design and art direction departments. Not 100% sure, but I think I spotted some artists who pulled double duty on Xenoblade 3 and TOTK, too.
That means they have a decent number of programmers and designers that… probably aren’t doing anything right now, which is a little weird. We’ll have to see what the BK Remastered credits look like to see where they might have gone (or maybe they helped out on some other Nintendo projects? IDK.)
At any rate, even if they haven’t been doing the Action Game
Finally, the way Honne is credited in this combined with the number of art staffers makes me wonder if maybe the “Special Thanks” credit means he oversees Monolith Tokyo’s PG2 art team now or something. Would be disappointing if so (I want him to make something new, dammit!) but at the very least it means he’s thriving at the company.
that's quite a huge chasm between not randomly assuming the "action game" project doesn't exist/is dead and "action game is their most ambitious project"
AoiHana
NINTENDOOMED
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- She/they
I was thinking of a new Baten Kaitos game, actually. Honne’s been raring to do one since Literally Forever, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the BK remasters are some sort of test run for a potential Baten Kaitos 3. I’m not counting on it, though, TBH; like I said, I think any new project from Monolith Soft ATM is probably going to be whatever’s next for Xenoblade.
Eeeehhhhhh… I’m still kind of skeptical? I think we’ll just have to wait and see for this one, but if no original IP from Monolith Soft shows up in the next 2-and-a-half years, I’m gonna feel pretty confident in saying this was never A Thing.
That said… the hiring calls were definitely not ones related to the roles that Monolith devs took on TOTK. I distinctly remember combat designers and programmers being included in the notices, and if TOTK’s credits are anything to go off of EPD handled most of that themselves. Whether there’s actually a new IP in development, they’re taking even more of a lead on Zelda Redacted, or those devs were taken on to plan the future of the Xenoblade series, only time will tell. For now, I’m cautiously pessimistic about the action game’s existence, but I don’t know if I can count it out of the running just yet.
Instro
Like Like
Based on the apparent situation with the BK remasters, I guess I could see it working something like Bayonetta where Bamco will have rights to the first two games and Nintendo would have the rights to the potential 3rd game. Maybe Honne and a small team and Monolith partner with Banco and the dev that is working on the remasters or something. I do see Nintendo's copyright on the BK remaster site, so they must not be entirely divorced from the releases. Seems like a long shot though. Feels like Nintendo/Monolith would be more significantly involved if it was intended to be that level of revival.
I can't see any reason for Monolith Soft to be working on a Baten Kaitos 3. Tri-Crescendo was the lead developer on BK, Nintendo is not publishing the BK Remasters, and another developer is porting the remasters.
Dark Cloud
Warpstar Knight
BK 3 makes little sense. They’re better off making a new card battle rpg IP
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- Hmmm
Well, they were the ones who said it is an ambitious project:
And it has to be veeeeery ambitious if they are still making it; otherwise, the recruitment page would be removed and would not be changed to "production".
TheMoon
(not a sphere)
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that (the "veeeeeery" part) is you reading into things. the level of ambition has nothing to do with the timeframe here. they were heavily involved on Zelda and were making their latest flagship IP game + expansions.
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- Hmmm
If it was another studio then I would have my doubts, but we are talking about Monolith Soft. If they created the recruitment page for the action game in 2017, it means it was in development for over 5 years because they can't create a recruitment page for something and freeze the project. It also means that Nintendo gave them the OK for the project before they put up the recruitment page and possibly it was planned from the beginning as a new IP for Nintendo's upcoming hardware; that's why it was named as "special" and now that we are close to the release of Nintendo's new hardware it changed to "production".
If Monolith Soft says they are making an ambitious game, it means they are making a veeeeeery ambitious game; because their normal games are ambitious.
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this
eye0h
"aggressively persue a multiplatform strategy"
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The "differs from brand image" part is exciting to me
AoiHana
NINTENDOOMED
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Tri-Crescendo were the programmers and battle and sound designers (and helped out with some of the modelling as well), but the producers, other designers and directors (except for Hatsushiba) were all Monolith Soft. It was definitely a co-production through and through.
Tri-Crescendo doesn’t seem to have been up to much of anything lately (I heard they maybe helped out with developing Tales of Arise?) so I’m sure they could be up to help out on a BK3. Would take some of the stress off Monolith, at any rate. God only knows if Honne’s up for it, though; it’s not like he’s been up to much of anything lately either, and for all I know that’s the way Nintendo likes it. (Friggin’ administrative roles…)
a game with simple gameplay mechanics, no story, no waifus, and has small level design
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part of monolith's brand image is that they won't make disaster 2 if you catch my drift
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Apopheniac
Monolith Soft action game truther
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Monolith Soft is doing the BK duology remaster (Banjos -Kazooie and -Tooie)
Mario has waifus tho
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Well yeah but how often do Wario and Waluigi show up in the single player games?
eye0h
"aggressively persue a multiplatform strategy"
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HE SAID IT HE SAID IT
MetalLord
Paratroopa
nobody focusing on the important news
nintendo.fandom.com
Hiroyuki Kubota
Hiroyuki Kubota is a former writer and game designer at AlphaDream. He is known for directing the Mario & Luigi series. After AlphaDream's bankruptcy, he joined Monolith Soft. Tomato Adventure - Scenario & Event Director Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - Field Design Lead/Scenario Mario & Luigi...
nintendo.fandom.com
Zeal543
Chain Chomp
between this and the sony japan studios dissolvement, monolith got some great talentnobody focusing on the important news
Hiroyuki Kubota
Hiroyuki Kubota is a former writer and game designer at AlphaDream. He is known for directing the Mario & Luigi series. After AlphaDream's bankruptcy, he joined Monolith Soft. Tomato Adventure - Scenario & Event Director Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - Field Design Lead/Scenario Mario & Luigi...
rickyson33
"The Baby"
they're finally making the ice climber game people were asking for a couple years ago
also it's an FPS for some reason
eye0h
"aggressively persue a multiplatform strategy"
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The Legend of Zelda™️️: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch™️️ – News
Read the latest news articles about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch™ system.
Harpoon
Like Like
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- he/him
nobody focusing on the important news
Hiroyuki Kubota
Hiroyuki Kubota is a former writer and game designer at AlphaDream. He is known for directing the Mario & Luigi series. After AlphaDream's bankruptcy, he joined Monolith Soft. Tomato Adventure - Scenario & Event Director Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - Field Design Lead/Scenario Mario & Luigi...
It makes me happy whenever I see a former Alpha Dream employee still working with Nintendo in some fashion.
Vladimir
Loves Xenoblade 2
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Amazing, the director of one of my favorite games(Bowser's Inside Story) works at Monolithsoft now! Thank you for sharing that @MetalLord.
OP
OP
MetalLord
Paratroopa
They were much more involved in this game than botw,working on enemy/npc/event programming,technical art,special effects,all things they didnt touch on botw,this was one the reasons for the action game speculation because they were hiring action game programmers and had no involvement with botw programming
Momo
Octorok
That’s because they’re now hiring for The Sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
LOL
