Switch 2 RPG Buzz Intensifies as Clair Obscur Eyes Expansion and Monolith Soft Gears Up

As people wait for Nintendo's next generation of hardware, new signs show that role-playing games may once again become the most popular type of game. Sources say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the biggest surprises in the RPG genre last year, is being talked about more and more as a possible Nintendo Switch 2 game.

At the same time, Monolith Soft is still adding to its development team for an ongoing, unnamed JRPG project. All of these changes point to the possibility that Nintendo's next system will be marked not only by its powerful hardware, but also by its deep, story-driven games that will be played for years.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out with little fanfare, but it quickly got attention around the world. The sources say that the game really hit home with players because it combined Western RPG elements with standard JRPG structure. Its main appeal came from its turn-based gameplay, cinematic presentation, and emotional story.

Its influences, which included Final Fantasy, Persona, Lost Odyssey, and Mario & Luigi, made it feel familiar without being copied. Early talk about borrowed mechanics quickly gave way to a more general understanding of the game's character, world-building goals, and storytelling goals.

The game did better than expected in the sales department on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms.

Sources say that the development team was surprised by how strongly players connected with the story and characters, which is something that is hard to guess during creation. Clair Obscur sold millions of copies, which was a lot for a medium-sized company and well above the average for turn-based RPGs that aren't part of long-running franchises. Even though it's been successful, Nintendo systems are still a big market that hasn't been fully explored.

The lack of Clair Obscur has been noticeable, especially in Japan, where people tend to play games on Nintendo devices. According to the sources, the game sold well in the area, but it was limited by the fact that it was only available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, which aren't very popular in Japan.

This has led to rumors that a Nintendo Switch 2 release could greatly extend the game's lifespan and bring it to the attention of a large group of people who usually enjoy turn-based RPGs.

Clair Obscur's design seems to fit well with Nintendo's idea of a hybrid system. The sources say that turn-based RPGs are good because they let players choose how to play, so they can move quickly through fights, side quests, and story beats. If there was a Switch 2 version, you could play it both mobile and docked, which might get new players and old fans to play in a new way.

As time goes on, Nintendo is likely to put a lot of emphasis on strong third-party support for its next system. As a result, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is seen as more of a natural fit than an unlikely port. One story is about a third-party hit that wants to try something new, and the other is about one of Nintendo's most trusted employees.

Sources say that Monolith Soft is actively looking for 2D artists for a big JRPG that has been in the works for three to four years. The jobs include a lot of different tasks, from drawing characters and backgrounds to designing machines and making advertising art. This means that the project is getting closer to being fully produced.

In the business world, Monolith Soft has a great name. People in the know say that the company is admired for both its work on the Xenoblade Chronicles series and its support work on Nintendo's biggest franchises. Its skills in designing and laying out big worlds and environments have helped shape many generations of Nintendo games, most notably The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

Because it makes its own big RPGs and works on big Nintendo games, Monolith Soft is an important part of Nintendo's development environment.

The fact that Monolith Soft's next project is a secret has only made people more interested. Sources say that the studio has said that its next JRPG will be very different from its previous work, which suggests that it will go in a different way rather than just continuing the series.

There is still a lot of talk about possible links to established franchises or the return of old ideas, but no official information has been released. It is clear that Nintendo has used Monolith Soft games in the past to show off the artistic and technical power of its hardware.

This trend goes back many generations of consoles. Sources say that Monolith Soft games have always pushed the edges of the system, with open worlds that are too big for most studios to handle and world structures that are too complicated for most studios to try. As Nintendo moves into the age of the Switch 2, more and more people are expecting the studio's next game to once again be a great example of what the platform can do, both visually and technically.

Together, the fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might be coming to Switch 2 and the fact that Monolith Soft is working quietly on their next JRPG show a bigger trend. Sources say that Nintendo is planning to improve its RPG lineup with a mix of well-known third-party hits and well-known games made by Nintendo itself.

This strategy is similar to ones used for earlier console launches, where deep, content-rich RPGs kept people interested for a long time and made the system more appealing to people who aren't just casual gamers.

It's harder to avoid the feeling that Switch 2 RPGs are moving quickly as word gets out and more people are hired. It looks like Nintendo's next move will involve bigger worlds, more emotional stories, and games that are meant to be played slowly instead of quickly. This could be done through strategic relationships, surprise appearances, or carefully planned shows.

Since Clair Obscur might be ready to reach more people and Monolith Soft is slowly getting ready for its next reveal, the only real question left is which RPG will get the most attention first and how big of an effect it will have when it does.