NintendObs Thinks: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 or Xenoblade Chronicles X 2?
Pondering on what Monolith Soft is developing, probably to be revealed this E3 2021.
Nintendo Direct E3 2021 is but a little more than a week away, so in the meantime it is time for speculation. However: I have my own speculation, which could very well qualify as a rumor, supported by an exclusive interview that I made here on NintendObs Dailies with David Whitaker, who worked with Hiroyuki Sawano as the rapper on the Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack. It is the quote he gave me that I will use to support my hunch that Monolith Soft’s next title is Xenoblade Chronicles X 2, while first exploring the possibility of a Xenoblade Chronicles 3, both on Nintendo Switch.
Before that, it is worth remembering the most recent DLC Fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, revealed in the last Nintendo Direct this February 2021, is a Xenoblade Chronicles 2 character, Pyra/Mythra. This is an announcement that was made conjointly by Nintendo, Monolith Soft and Sora at a time when Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was already complete as a project with the release of Torna The Gold Country in the fall of 2018, and Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition was already released the year prior in 2020 meaning that Pyra/Mythra were coming to Smash not to support the launch of an upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles title yet, but to maintain the recognition of the franchise for the time being. This is why I surmise they have done so in preparation for an upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles announcement which I believe is set for this Nintendo Direct E3 2021. (Similarly to how the Splatoon franchise bought time with additional Splatfests in Splatoon 2 all the way to January 2021 in order for the reveal of Splatoon 3 in February 2021 to land in perfect continuity.)
If so: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 or Xenoblade Chronicles X 2? Xenoblade Chronicles 3 would establish a trilogy right there on the same console, one that could be bundled and marketed together in years to come on a future gaming system. Xenoblade Chronicles X 2 could revive a spin-off from the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise, giving it more leeway for future developments, and paving the way for a Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition a year or two later, just like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 did for Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition. It needs to be specified however, that Monolith Soft may fairly well be working on an entirely different franchise altogether, a new IP or — fingers crossed — a Baten Kaitos III, but it’s specifically because Pyra/Mythra were announced and joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate not too long ago that another installment within Xenoblade would seem more likely.