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The Unplanned Journey of Xenoblade Chronicles to North America

Insights from former Nintendo employees shed light on how Xenoblade Chronicles made its way to North American gamers against initial plans.
The Unplanned Journey of Xenoblade Chronicles to North America

Highlights

  • Xenoblade Chronicles defied initial expectations by landing in North America and becoming a success.
  • Operation Rainfall's advocacy played a pivotal role in bringing Xenoblade Chronicles and other RPGs to Western audiences.
  • Despite Nintendo's hesitant decisions, Xenoblade evolved into a beloved RPG series in North America.

Former Nintendo insiders have disclosed that Xenoblade Chronicles was not originally intended for a North American launch, despite early announcements. This RPG series has established itself as a flagship for Nintendo, with developer Monolith Soft gaining recognition as a trusted first-party studio for the company. The inception of Xenoblade dates back to its debut on the Nintendo Wii in 2010, laying the foundation for its subsequent success.

At a time when the Nintendo Wii lacked RPG titles, Monolith Soft was tasked with creating a new game for the platform. The initial Xenoblade project, initially named

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