Monolith Software, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社モノリスソフト, Kabushiki gaisha Monorisu Sofuto, MONOLITH SOFTWARE INC.) is a video game development company headquartered in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan.
History[]
In late 1998, Tetsuya Takahashi and Hirohide Sugiura both resigned from Square (now known today as Square Enix) and accepted an investment from Namco. Both former Square members founded a new company known to be Monolith Soft, which was officially established on October 1, 1999.
Xenosaga Episode I was Monolith's debut release, which was released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. It then followed up with Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean only for the GameCube in 2003, which was co-developed with tri-Crescendo. In 2004, Xenosaga Freaks and Xenosaga Episode II were both released only for the PlayStation 2. In 2005, Monolith released a crossover fighting and role-playing game known as Namco × Capcom, exclusively for the PlayStation 2.
In 2006, Monolith released Baten Kaitos Origins for the GameCube, Xenosaga I & II for the Nintendo DS, and Xenosaga Episode III for the PlayStation 2. On February 28, 2008, a game called Soma Bringer was released only in Japan for the Nintendo DS. The other two games were Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier for the Nintendo DS and Disaster: Day of Crisis for the Nintendo Wii. In 2009, Monolith released Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for the Nintendo DS. In 2010, Monolith released Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier Exceed for the Nintendo DS.
During E3 2009, a trailer for the prototype title of Monado: The Beginning of the World was released. The game was released for the Wii on June 10, 2010 titled Xenoblade. Xenoblade became somewhat of an elusive title to the public eye of the world until the silence was broken when it was revealed that Nintendo had bought the parenting rights of Monolith since 2007. Feeling that Xenoblade would become the company's first real breakthrough, it decided to introduce the title to English-speaking nations, and the game released in the European regions on August 19, 2011 under the extended title Xenoblade Chronicles. Even the United States requested that the game should release in their country with a fanbase project called "Operation Rainfall", petitioning for the title to come their way. The request was accepted, and Xenoblade Chronicles was released in North America on April 6, 2012.
Two years since Xenoblade Chronicles came about in North America, Shulk gained much praise for being the best new character, which foreshadowed his appearance for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, released in late 2014. On April 10, 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D was released, only compatible for the New Nintendo 3DS, which was co-developed by Monster Games. On April 29, 2015, Monolith released Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Nintendo Wii U, which was later released in every other designated region on December 5, 2015.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch on December 1, 2017. An expansion story, Torna ~ The Golden Country, was released on September 14, 2018 to fit directly with the copy of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Standalone software for Torna ~ The Golden Country released a week later. In early 2021, Pyra and Mythra were released as DLC playable characters as part of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate downloadable content Fighter Pass Vol. 2.
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