Monolith Soft’s Expanding Role in Zelda: Inside the Studio’s Collaboration with Nintendo
Monolith Soft, best known for the critically acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles series, has steadily become one of Nintendo’s most valued development partners.
While many recognize the Tokyo-based studio for its RPG masterpieces, Monolith Soft’s influence extends far beyond its own franchises, significantly impacting the development of some of Nintendo’s most beloved first-party titles on the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. Since its founding, Monolith Soft has contributed to the success of major Nintendo games, including Mario Kart World, Splatoon 3, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
However, it is the studio’s work with The Legend of Zelda series—particularly since The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’s release in 2011—where their expertise has truly shone.
Recently, a new interview featuring Monolith Soft’s Yasuhiro Fujita and Nintendo’s Daiki Iwamoto offered fresh insights into this long-standing partnership. In the interview, Fujita and Iwamoto recounted Monolith Soft’s initial experiences working within the walls of a Nintendo franchise.
The transition, they shared, was met with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, as contributing to a flagship property like Zelda comes with high expectations.
Over time, each successful collaboration—culminating in modern classics like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its celebrated sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—helped both teams build trust and confidence. "When we first joined the Zelda project with Skyward Sword, there was a sense of nervousness," stated Fujita in the interview.
"But as we collaborated on more games, our working relationship deepened and grew stronger." For The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which launched for Nintendo Switch in May 2023, Monolith Soft’s involvement was pivotal from the earliest stages.
Nintendo staff routinely visited Monolith’s offices, fostering an environment where creative ideas and technical expertise could be shared seamlessly.
This close-knit development structure enabled both teams to push the franchise in bold new directions, contributing to the latest Zelda game’s global success and positive critical reception. Reflecting on the partnership's future, Daiki Iwamoto of Nintendo noted, "Monolith Soft has become a core partner for us.
Moving forward, I would like to see them take on a central role as we create new Zelda experiences from the ground up." Monolith Soft’s ongoing work on the Xenoblade Chronicles series and its expanding portfolio of first-party contributions cements its importance within Nintendo’s development ecosystem.
As fans continue to celebrate the studio’s achievements, industry watchers will be keen to see just how their deepening collaboration shapes the future of The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo Switch and beyond.
While many recognize the Tokyo-based studio for its RPG masterpieces, Monolith Soft’s influence extends far beyond its own franchises, significantly impacting the development of some of Nintendo’s most beloved first-party titles on the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. Since its founding, Monolith Soft has contributed to the success of major Nintendo games, including Mario Kart World, Splatoon 3, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
However, it is the studio’s work with The Legend of Zelda series—particularly since The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’s release in 2011—where their expertise has truly shone.
Recently, a new interview featuring Monolith Soft’s Yasuhiro Fujita and Nintendo’s Daiki Iwamoto offered fresh insights into this long-standing partnership. In the interview, Fujita and Iwamoto recounted Monolith Soft’s initial experiences working within the walls of a Nintendo franchise.
The transition, they shared, was met with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, as contributing to a flagship property like Zelda comes with high expectations.
Over time, each successful collaboration—culminating in modern classics like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its celebrated sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—helped both teams build trust and confidence. "When we first joined the Zelda project with Skyward Sword, there was a sense of nervousness," stated Fujita in the interview.
"But as we collaborated on more games, our working relationship deepened and grew stronger." For The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which launched for Nintendo Switch in May 2023, Monolith Soft’s involvement was pivotal from the earliest stages.
Nintendo staff routinely visited Monolith’s offices, fostering an environment where creative ideas and technical expertise could be shared seamlessly.
This close-knit development structure enabled both teams to push the franchise in bold new directions, contributing to the latest Zelda game’s global success and positive critical reception. Reflecting on the partnership's future, Daiki Iwamoto of Nintendo noted, "Monolith Soft has become a core partner for us.
Moving forward, I would like to see them take on a central role as we create new Zelda experiences from the ground up." Monolith Soft’s ongoing work on the Xenoblade Chronicles series and its expanding portfolio of first-party contributions cements its importance within Nintendo’s development ecosystem.
As fans continue to celebrate the studio’s achievements, industry watchers will be keen to see just how their deepening collaboration shapes the future of The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo Switch and beyond.
