Here we go once again for a new recruitment phase for Monolith Soft !

After the release of their latest projects with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and the DLC story Future Redeemed, which the later was directed by the studio head Tetsuya Takahashi, he officially posted a recruitment post for a new RPG project with him in the directing role.

Translated citations from the official announcement on their webpage :

"Hello everyone. This is Takahashi from Monolith Soft.

This time, we are recruiting development staff for Monolith Soft's 1st Production for the first time in a long time. I can't go into the details here, but the genre is a "new RPG."

The new RPG is taking on many new challenges compared to previous Monolith Soft titles. Naturally, the content to be created is becoming more sophisticated, so we need many talented people, which is why we are now looking for people. For convenience, we have narrowed down the job types to eight, but we are basically looking for people in all areas. The required skill level is also all-round, from asset creation to lead. "

"As I mentioned in the previous recruitment, Monolith Soft has been producing games with a small number of people compared to the scale of the titles we make. This was something we were proud of, but the current situation in the gaming scene means that we can no longer say so . For example, the days of using human wave tactics to produce a large amount of material have long since come to an end, and it has become commonplace to provide an efficient production environment. "

From what I understand, the new Switch hardware and the increase in likelihood of scope has led to new challenges to manage their next projects. It's not evident to understand if it means this project in question is quite early in development or already along the lines of being actively produced.

The studio had similar recruitment campaigns like these back in 2016 after Xenoblade X directly into Xenoblade 2 the next year and also another one in 2018 after the DLC expansion of 2, Torna the Golden Country was finished, which led to Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition in 2020 and Xenoblade 3 in 2022.

Personally, I don't think it undermines the prospect of them creating a new game by one of their 2 game production teams at the main studio. Clearly though, the project led by Takahashi is imo, not that close of being finished currently for the Switch successor launch window. Might be a year 2 or year 3 project.

"Tetsuya Takahashi"

So this guy a big deal or something?

He worked at Falcom then Square Enix where he worked on Crono Trigger. Directed Xeno Gears. Created Monolith then made both the XenoSaga and Xenoblade series.

Participated in the production of big Square soft projects like FFIV-VI, worked on Chrono Trigger, pitched a script for a potential FFVII, which later became Xenogears. Did the Xenosaga trilogy on PS2 after funding it's studio with a couple of ex-Square employees and finally created one of the first JRPG's that regained confidence in the genre back when it was brought to quasi irrevelance during the 7th Gen with Xenoblade Chronicles.

I hope it's something new and fresh.

Speaking of Xenosaga, I'm kind of surprised Namco never remastered it for modern consoles, the whole series is stuck on the PS2 (and that one DS title). You'd think a remaster would do well considering how successful Xenoblade has been.

Hope it's something different from Xenoblade. The world design is okay, but the battle gameplay became boring fast for me. Neither Xeno 1 nor Xeno 2 made me go past the 30 hours

Don't quote me on it but I think .hack was meant to test the waters and failed. Harada wants to remaster them but has been given the red light.

Unless Bandai operated a change of heart recently, it's not happening. The project was already turned down due to fear of insolvency.

Maybe if Nintendo to take in part of the risk of the project, but it's doubtful.