Nintendo is putting money on the table to fully buy out one of the studios behind one of its flagship franchises. A symbolic gesture, but one that counts.
Studio buyouts have been in the news a lot in recent years. It has to be said that Microsoft's Activision was a real turning point. Another could soon make a difference in the competition: PlayStation officially announces its leaning towards Kadokawa – and therefore also towards FromSoftware. But in the case of NintendoA more discreet takeover has just taken place, allowing the Japanese publisher to have complete control of one of his foals.
Nintendo is completely strengthening its hold on one of its exclusives
It is a symbolic but no less important gesture that has just taken place between Nintendo and Monolith softwho signs the games Xenoblade. Since 2007, Big N has gradually tended to assert its authority over this development team. He started strong, acquiring 80% of his shares, which increased to 96% in 2011 (i.e. 2,320 shares out of 2,400).
Previously, the studio's founders had retained the final 4%. It is now a bygone era. Nintendo just bought back the last shares it needed to own all of Monolith Soft's stock. On the studio's official website we can now read that the parent company “ Nintendo Co., Ltd. (100% subsidiary) » (« Nintendo Co., Ltd. (100% owned) » an original version)
Big N ensures this absolute exclusivity Games from Monolith Soft and complete control over the studio. Given the publisher's shareholding, this was already the case in practice. If we look at its productions, it is the last game released on a console other than a Nintendo console Xenosaga Episode III: Thus Spoke Zarathustrareleased on PS2… in 2006!
This move should herald more good days for Monolith Soft! This summer we found out the studio had one reserved Remastered by Xenoblade Chronicles X. The title is scheduled for March 20, 2025 on Nintendo Switch. This is a great way to celebrate the tenth anniversary since its release on Wii U.
Source: Monolith soft.
