After months of anticipation, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has finally been announced. The game has been rumored for months, ever since Jenna Coleman, voice actor for Melia, let slip there was a new Xenoblade project in the works. Fans can finally start getting excited about the next step in this epic series.
As confirmed by the producers and the trailer itself, this game is set in a world that pulls together those of the first two games. Characters from both games were either teased or outright shown, and the party looks to be heroes from both worlds coming together for a common cause, which has significant implications for the plot.
Bionis & Alrest Combined
The first two Xenoblade Chronicles games were set in separate worlds that ran parallel to each other, so it's unclear how these worlds are now one and the same. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 confirmed the strong link between the two worlds, and both games' endings have the protagonists start their life in a brand-new world. While it was never explicitly confirmed by the developers, it's been long speculated by fans that the world both protagonists go to at the end of their respective games are, in fact, the same world. What is for sure is that there will be plenty of time to explore this, as Xenoblade games have garnered a reputation for being extremely long.
The announcement trailer shown at the February Nintendo Direct showed elements from both worlds coexisting, reformed in new ways, shaped by the new world. The most striking image is that in the title cards, which shows the gigantic sword of Mechonis from the first game, pierced through the skull of the Urayan Titan, from the second. How such a thing happened is a marvel in and of itself. Was it simply a calamity of nature? Or was it an act of war from one of the two major factions?
The other sign of the two worlds coexisting is the different races shown in the trailer. While Humans and Nopon existed in both worlds, the High Entia come from Bionis, and the Gormotti come from one of the Titans of Alrest. The main party includes characters from both these races, hopefully as a sign of the two sides of the war coming together in a small yet meaningful way. However, fans will be most excited about who is at the helm of the war.
While both characters were wearing masks, their voices and overall designs make it clear who they are. The High Entia leading the darker faction, named by Nintendo on Twitter as Keves, is Melia, a fan-favorite party member from the first game. Meanwhile, the masked Gormotti leading the lighter faction, known as Agnus, are led by Nia, a fan-favorite party member from the second game. Both these characters travelled with strong-willed protagonists who ultimately sought to end war and the suffering it caused, so what drove them to start such a large-scale conflict is as yet unclear.
How Has The World Changed?
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One major factor that isn't yet clear is how far this is set after the ending of both games. Nia and Melia's inclusion doesn't help in this aspect, as they both have significantly extended lifespans. As a Flesh Eater, Nia can potentially live forever; as shown in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the Flesh Eater Jin lived for over 500 years with no signs of aging. Similarly, there are confirmed cases of High Entia living upwards of 400 years, which opens up a significant margin for error on the timeline.
Given how massive the scale of the war seems to be, it's fair to assume that a significant degree of time has passed, especially as the protagonists in the trailer seem to view the war as a fact of life, something they've known since they were born. Since this is the case, it's fair to assume that most other party members will no longer be around come Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Shulk and Rex both had regular human lifespans, as did the majority of both game's parties.
There are a few possible exceptions, and one that was potentially shown in the trailer was Vandham. This seems impossible, as he has a definitive death scene in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. However, the trailer clearly shows a shot of someone who looks virtually identical to him in both face and voice. If this world can somehow revive the dead, then the possibilities for returning Xenoblade characters are theoretically endless. The world doesn't give without taking, though, so it's likely there will be some horrific truth behind this power of resurrection.
Another burning question the trailer leaves is what has happened to Blades? All-powerful Blades have theoretically infinite lifespans, coming from a Core Crystal and could feed off the Ether itself, granting power to their Drivers. The trailer does not refer to Blades existing, and two of the game's party members have what look like Core Crystals in their chest. Perhaps when they left Alrest, their nature changed, and they no longer have to rely on Drivers to channel their power.
This leads directly into the question of what happened to Pyra/Mythra. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was deliberately inconclusive about their future, and fans will undoubtedly be burning to find out about the life they led with Rex following that game's ending. As the current poster-children for the franchise, thanks to their inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it'd be strange if they made no appearance at all, even if they are now powerless thanks to the Conduit disappearing.
Who Are The Party Members?
The final big question mark is the origin of Xenoblade Chronicles 3's main party, specifically Noah and Mio, who feature on the game's cover art. Mio has a unique core crystal in her chest, which fans will recognize as that of a Flesh Eater. The idea that Flesh Eaters still exist in this world is somewhat disturbing. However, it's possible this crystal was passed on genetically, as Nia shares the same one. Along with a similar facial structure and other features, she likely descends from Nia somehow.
Noah is far more nebulous. He is a soldier of Keves, which means if his parentage is of any importance, it will come from the original Xenoblade Chronicles' cast of characters. A descendant of Shulk and Fiora seems like to most obvious idea, but perhaps Monolith Soft will look to surprise players by taking a different route. His sword is one of the most exciting features, as it combines visual elements of both Shulk's Monado and Pyra's Aegis. The game leans heavily on the idea of two sides coming together, so the idea that Shulk and Rex somehow combined their great power in an effort to end the war seems a strong possibility.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 releases in September for Nintendo Switch.
