Monolith Soft Expands In-House Engine for Future Titles

Monolith Soft, the studio renowned for the Xenoblade Chronicles series, is enhancing its proprietary engine for upcoming projects with the establishment of a new R&D department, as reported by Automaton.

In a recent interview with Japanese outlet CGworld, Chief Creative Officer Tetsuya Takahashi and lead programmer Michihiko Inaba discussed the company’s future plans as it gears up for larger development endeavors.

According to Inaba, the ongoing engine development is rooted in the framework created for the original Xenoblade Chronicles from 2010, with the ultimate goal of internal management by the R&D team. Currently, multiple development teams are working on various aspects of the engine, including modeling and effects technologies, which will eventually come together in the final product.

Despite the challenges associated with maintaining an in-house engine, Takahashi expresses confidence in the endeavor: “We don’t currently have the option of using engines made by other companies,” he explained to CGworld. “This is because in-house engines are easier to customize to suit our needs and are easier to use.”

Monolith Soft has desired an internal R&D department for years, but lacked the necessary manpower to establish one without compromising the development team. Collaboration with Nintendo changed this dynamic, as larger development scales increased demands, leading to a boost in the workforce and the creation of the R&D team led by Inaba.

The new department’s focus is to streamline development procedures, aid in tool development, and explore new technologies, all of which are strategic moves in preparation for the company’s upcoming titles.

While the specifics of Monolith Soft’s future projects remain a mystery, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s next. With the impressive launch of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 on Switch in 2022, hopes are high for potential releases on the rumored ‘Switch 2’ platform. All eyes are on this innovative new engine for what’s to come!