New Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Developer Interview Discusses Efforts to Mitigate Frustration & Confusion; Exploration & Content Abundance

July 28, 2022 Orpheus Joshua

Nintendo has released the third and final part of their Xenoblade Chronicles 3 developer interview with the executive director, Tetsuya Takahashi, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s producer and directors, Koh Kojima and Genki Yokota.

Regarding the overall development of these games, Kojima and Takahashi state that the story basis is at the forefront of the process, with the team implementing mechanics that they believe would wholly fit the setting. However, Takahashi does iterate that he believes gameplay and story are truthfully developed simultaneously, so an accurate assessment of the game’s content volume is perceptible.

The team then comments on the abundance of content the Xenoblade games have, stating that it is all done to realize Takahashi’s vision better. In fact, the total walkable area for this game is over 5 times larger than Xenoblade Chronicles 2, with overall content entirely exceeding the previous titles.

Thankfully, in an effort not to make players feel lost due to elevation issues, the Navigation Arrow was created. While Takahashi and Kojima did feel concerned over the potentiality of players ignoring exploration in favor of beelining to objectives, the urge to resolve undue frustration was greater. A pillar of light is also provided when Navigation is activated for players to see their waypoints from afar.

In that same vein, to prevent confusion, an elaborate and well-detailed training drill incorporation was added to the main menu for combative elements to be transparently explained. I sure hope these tutorials are actually worded well because the previous titles were infamously poor with that. Still, while the developers also insist that while the battle UI may seem confusing and intimidating, continual battle practice will greatly diminish those worries.

Lastly, they reveal that the story DLC arriving at the end of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass is aimed to be as large as Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country. Interestingly, Kojima points out how he hasn’t been involved with that facet of development. The Xenoblade Chronicles series will also continue to go on for as long as possible.

You can view the final part of this interview via Nintendo’s official website.

We’ll keep updating you all on any vital Xenoblade Chronicles 3 news.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 tells the story of protagonists Noah and Mio contending with a conflict between the nations of Keves and Agnus. 6 characters will be the crux of the experience, and the broad concept of “life” will be the title’s central theme.

The narrative for the game will tie in elements and plotlines from the future of the prior two mainline games, Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Flutes seem to play an integral role in this title’s premise.

The summoning of this powerful new form depends on a new Interlink system. If specific conditions are met, characters can combine into this mech, and choosing well when to transform should be key to the more difficult battles. Another system revealed is a class change option, allowing players to customize their parties’ builds further than in previous games.