This article contains spoilers forXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.
TheXenoblade Chroniclesfranchise has always danced on the edge of genre and narrative, stretching the limits of what a JRPG can be. From the sweeping fantasy of the original trilogy to the sci-fi isolation ofXenoblade Chronicles X, Monolith Soft has never been afraid to evolve. With the release ofXenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Editionfinally tying its standalone world to the broader series through the metaphysical Rift Between Worlds, the studio now has an unprecedented opportunity to branch the series in two distinct directions.
Instead of forcing all future entries to juggle the differing expectations of fans of the mainline trilogy andX, Monolith Soft could mirror Atlus’ successful structure withPersonaandShin Megami Tensei. By creating two parallel yet philosophically linked games—Xenoblade Chronicles 5andXenoblade Chronicles X-2—Monolith Soft could embrace both narrative density and exploratory freedom, satisfying the full breadth of its passionate fan base.
Xenoblade Chronicles 5 Can Be the Story Pillar
LikePersona 5, which evolved fromShin Megami Tenseiinto its own identity with strong themes, deep character arcs, and social metaphors,Xenoblade Chronicles 5can build directly on the foundations of its predecessors. The original trilogy’s slow build from grounded conflict into cosmic revelations has become a signature of the series. By continuing this approach, Monolith Soft can give players another emotionally layered tale where fantasy and sci-fi collide.
InXenoblade Chronicles 3, death isn’t just a mechanic—it’s the central question. Characters are literally born to die, cycling through endless war and reincarnation. The series consistently frames death not as an ending, but as a lens through which the meaning of life is understood.Xenoblade Chronicles 5could return to these themes, pushing them even further now thatX’s world is part of the greater continuity. It could explore humanity’s original beginnings—possibly on Earth—tying threads back toXenosagaand evenXenogears.
The Rift Between Worlds introduced inXenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Editiondoesn’t just unify timelines—it also reintroduces theological and metaphysical concepts from earlier Monolith Soft games. This area could be a critical narrative tool inXenoblade Chronicles 5, allowing cross-world memory echoes or reincarnation as a core gameplay system.
WhereAtlus usesPersonato comment on societal repression and identity, Monolith Soft can continue usingXenoblade Chroniclesto dive into philosophical questions about memory, continuity, and the self. A new entry could inheritXenoblade Chronicles 3’s character-driven structure while innovating through dual-world travel or soul-link systems—possibly even letting players embody reincarnated versions of past characters, echoing decisions across timelines.
Xenoblade X-2 Should Embrace Sci-Fi Exploration
Meanwhile,Xenoblade Chronicles X-2could fully double down on what made the originalXso distinct. That game was never just about survival on an alien world, it was about adaptation. It gave players mechs, massive continents, modular weapon systems, and a sense of scale unseen in most JRPGs. TheDefinitive Editionconfirmed thatMira is part of the larger cosmology, givingX’s world a chance to continue as its own living, breathing branch of theXenobladenarrative tree.
Much likeShin Megami Tenseihas a colder, more mechanical approachto its themes compared toPersona,Xenoblade Chronicles X-2could lean into minimalism, moral ambiguity, and environmental storytelling. Instead of long-winded cutscenes or complex party politics, it could emphasize exploration, player choice, and deciphering the world through ruins, AI remnants, and alien lifeforms. The story could center on the diaspora of humanity after Mira’s collapse: where do they go, and who do they become without a planet to bind them?
A scaled-back script, supported by heavy atmosphere and optional lore pickups, would make the game feel like a natural evolution. WithXenosaga’s Higher Domain andXenoblade Chronicles 3’s Origin now “canonically” in play,X-2could place the player in the role of a mythic wanderer—a sci-fi pilgrim whose goal is to find meaning in the remains of a civilization that never belonged to them in the first place.
Monolith Soft’s Kyoto studio has provided support for open-world design onThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. A team with this pedigree could bring even greater verticality and interactivity toXenoblade Chronicles X-2, especially if the next game takes advantage of the hardware improvements in the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
The game wouldn’t need to feature traditional party systems. Instead,Xenoblade X-2could offer modular solo builds, co-op play, or AI companionsshaped by the player’s moral choices—reminiscent of the affinity-based AI system inX. This kind of title would allow Monolith Soft to keep a faster production cycle without sacrificing thematic ambition.
Two Xenoblade Games Can Serve One Legacy
A split-path strategy would let Monolith Soft deepen both branches of its universe without forcing compromise. Rather than cramming complex metaphysics and open-world traversal into a single game, it could embrace duality. Fans who love narrative depth, ensemble casts, and tightly plotted themes getXenoblade Chronicles 5. Fans who want mechs, freedom, and exploration getXenoblade Chronicles X-2.
This wouldn’t just be a quality-of-life decision; it would serve the lore. TheXenobladeseries is inherently about division and convergence: of worlds, of ideologies, of selves. By developing two titles, the studio can turn this motif into a game structure. The concept of duality—present inXenoblade Chronicles 2’s Blades,Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s Ouroboros forms, and the Rift Between Worlds—becomes literal. Two roads. Two games. One mythos.
It would also future-proof the series. Monolith Soft could stagger releases, using different teams for different games—just as Atlus does withPersonaandShin Megami Tensei. The studio already has four Tokyo branches and one in Kyoto. With smart project management, it could keepXenobladegames coming at a steady pace without burnout or compromise.
Nintendo’s continued investment in Monolith Softspeaks volumes. FromBreath of the WildtoTears of the Kingdom, the studio has become integral to Nintendo’s ecosystem. Giving it room to lead its flagship JRPG series in two directions could be a defining move for the Nintendo Switch 2’s early life cycle.
In the end, it’s not about choosing between past and future.Xenoblade Chronicleshas always been about bringing disparate worlds together. Just asPersonaandShin Megami Tenseicoexist to serve different facets of the same core theme, so too canXenoblade Chronicles 5andXenoblade Chronicles X-2: two sides of a philosophical coin, spinning endlessly across time and space.
