Nintendo has strongly hinted that the developer behind the acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles series will spearhead a new, standalone project within The Legend of Zelda universe.
Monolith Soft's Growing Role in Hyrule
In an interview published on Monolith Soft's own website, Zelda series general manager Daiki Iwamoto expressed a desire for the studio to assume a more prominent position in future productions. Iwamoto described Monolith Soft as a "strong partner" when building Zelda games from the ground up and stated his wish for them to take on a "central role in production."
He elaborated, suggesting the collaboration should use their combined expertise to "create a unique title in the series together." This specific phrasing strongly indicates the project in question is not a mainline entry but a distinct spin-off. Primary Zelda games remain the domain of Nintendo's internal EPD division.
A Proven Track Record of Support
Monolith Soft, acquired by Nintendo in 2007, is no stranger to the lands of Hyrule. The studio has provided crucial support on several flagship titles, beginning with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in 2011. Its most significant contribution came with the revolutionary The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where the team's expertise was vital in crafting the game's vast open world.
Beyond Zelda, Monolith has been a reliable support studio for other major Nintendo franchises like Splatoon and Animal Crossing, and has developed its own successful Xenoblade Chronicles series. It has effectively become Nintendo's go-to expert for open-world design.
Timing and the Upcoming Zelda Movie
The future of the mainline Zelda series remains shrouded in mystery. Producer Eiji Aonuma has confirmed the team will move on from the setting of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, making the next major iteration unpredictable.
However, Nintendo will likely want a Zelda-related game to coincide with the planned live-action film in 2027. As a new mainline title is almost certainly not feasible by that date, a spin-off becomes the prime candidate. Nintendo has recently shown a strategy of aligning game releases with movie promotions, as seen with the re-release of Super Mario Galaxy games ahead of its film.
While it is unclear if development on Monolith's Zelda project has formally begun, the studio's structure—split into three teams across Tokyo and Kyoto—means it has the manpower to work on multiple large-scale games simultaneously, depending on Nintendo's priorities.
