The Xenoblade Chronicles 3 characters might remind you of ones from a past game, as Xenoblade Chronicles 2 designer Masatsugu Saito returned to work on the cast. Executive Director Tetsuya Takahashi brought it and other details up in an official message following the game’s announcement.
The announcement didn’t just mention Saito. A number of other returning Xenoblade Chronicles series staff will also be back. For example, Koichi Mugitani contributed designs for Xenoblade Chronicles X and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and made key art for this entry. Returning composers ACE, Kenji Hiramatsu, Manami Kiyota, Mariam Abounnasr, and Yasunori Mitsuda will be back. All five composed music for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 too.
As a reminder, you can already see how some of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 characters look. The first trailer appeared as part of its February 2022 Nintendo Direct reveal. The main protagonist and both allies and enemies all showed up in the initial footage.
To help provide more insight, here’s another scene taken from the game.
Aionios, the world of #XenobladeChronicles3, is home to two hostile nations: Keves and Agnus. Each nation is locked in conflict against each other, and their soldiers fight with their lives on the line just to survive. pic.twitter.com/RA44Ae6RhH
— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) February 9, 2022
Keves is a nation where machine technology was developed. Its forces are composed of units consisting mainly of combat vehicles and small, mobile weapons operated by people riding them. If their clothes are black and have a "mech" style, then they're Keves! #XenobladeChronicles3 pic.twitter.com/VD4yP393l7
— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) February 9, 2022
Agnus is a nation strong in ether, a magical technology. Their forces are made up of units specialised in ether combat, and they fight with small, mobile, autonomous weapons. If they're clad in white and are proficient in ether combat, then they're Agnus. #XenobladeChronicles3 pic.twitter.com/GpzX0UmtSN
— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) February 10, 2022
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will come to the Nintendo Switch in September 2022.
