Nintendo has officially completed the acquisition of Monolith Soft, the creators of the Xenoblade series. After years of efforts to secure full ownership, the deal was finalized in the first half of 2024.

Monolith Soft, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Xenoblade franchise, has long been considered one of Japan’s top game developers. Founded in 1999, the company has been largely under Nintendo’s control since 2007. However, as of now, Monolith Soft is entirely owned by the gaming giant.

The collaboration between Nintendo and Monolith Soft predates 2007. Back in 2004, then-Nintendo President Satoru Iwata initiated a partnership with the studio during the development of Mother (EarthBound outside Japan). Although Nintendo gained a majority stake in 2007, Namco Bandai retained 16% of the shares for years, maintaining a partial stake as a “foster parent.”

Over the years, Nintendo gradually increased its stake, reaching 96% ownership a few years ago. The remaining 4% belonged to Monolith Soft’s co-founders—Hirohide Sugiura, Tetsuya Takahashi, and Yasuyuki Honne—until early 2024. According to VideoGameChronicles, the final transition was quietly carried out over the past six months, and as of November 21, Nintendo officially owns 100% of Monolith Soft.

Xenoblade Chronicles X Ushers in the New Nintendo Era

Over the past decade, Monolith Soft has been a cornerstone of Nintendo’s success, contributing not only its own franchises like Xenoblade Chronicles but also assisting in major projects such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing. Their next big release, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, is set to launch on Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2025. This enhanced edition of the 2015 Wii U game features improved graphics, additional narrative content, and gameplay refinements to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers.

Source: 3djuegos