Monolith Soft

Monolith Software Inc.
Type	Subsidiary
Founded	October 1st, 1999
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Industry	Video Game Development
Products	Video Games
Employees	209
Parent	Nintendo
Website	Monolith Software Inc. (Japanese)
Article on Wikipedia	Monolith Soft

Monolith Soft (株式会社モノリスソフト, Monolith Soft kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese game developer. They were founded on October 1st, 1999 by former Squaresoft employees Tetsuya Takahashi, Yasuyuki Honne, and Hirohide Sugiura. Formerly a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and multiplatform developer, the company was acquired by Nintendo in 2007 and has since become a wholly first-party developer.

Under Namco, Monolith debuted with the Xenosaga series, created as a spiritual successor to the Takahashi-led Xenogears. Their other games under Namco were the Baten Kaitos duology and Namco x Capcom. Following their acquisition by Nintendo, Monolith Soft created the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Named in honour of Xenogears and Xenosaga, it has become their longest-running and most commercially-successful series to date, and their primary representation in Smash. Other games include Soma Bringer, Disaster: Day of Crisis and Project X Zone, a spiritual sequel to Namco x Capcom joined by IPs from Sega.

In the 2010s, Monolith opened a supporting studio in Kyoto and established a second team in Tokyo, which have both provided development cooperation on a variety of Nintendo EPD games, most significantly playing a key supporting role in The Legend of Zelda series. Prior to this, their main Tokyo office was one of several companies contracted for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Monolith Soft were one of several outsourced companies credited for providing developmental support. Founding member Yasuyuki Honne is credited for Adventure Mode map design.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Shulk, the protagonist of Xenoblade Chronicles, appears as a newcomer, bringing with him major representation from the game. This included a stage, several trophies and eight music tracks. Riki appears as an assist trophy and Dunban appears as a DLC Mii Costume. Additionally, the tracks "The valedictory elegy" from Baten Kaitos Origins and "Attack (Soma Bringer)" from Soma Bringer appear exclusively on the Wii U version.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Xenoblade universe expanded in Ultimate, reflecting the intervening releases of Xenoblade Chronicles X and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Within the base game, Shulk returns to the roster alongside all associated Xenoblade content save for its trophies, replaced by a variety of spirits from throughout the three games. New content in the base game additionally encompassed 3 new tracks from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fiora as a cameo in Shulk's updated Final Smash, and a Nia costume.

As DLC, Pyra and Mythra joined the roster in Fighters Pass Vol. 2 alongside the Cloud Sea of Alrest stage, more new Spirits, and 16 additional music tracks, all from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. A Mii Costume of Rex was previously available as a bonus for purchasing Fighters Pass Vol. 1. Pyra and Mythra's reveal trailer was fully written and created inhouse by Monolith Soft, as was a short "thank you" video featuring the two. A spirit of Noah & Mio from the subsequently-released Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was patched into the game in 2024.

"The valedictory elegy" returns from Baten Kaitos Origins, along with spirits of main characters Sagi and Milly. Soma Bringer is represented by the return of "Attack (Soma Bringer)" as music, along with characters Welt and Idea appearing as spirits. Disaster: Day of Crisis is newly-represented by a spirit of its protagonist, Raymond Bryce.