The story of Xenoblade Genesis has only been glimpsed through the reveal. The premise below is drawn from the reveal trailer and surrounding coverage rather than Nintendo's official page, which provides no plot detail, so it should be treated as early and incomplete.
Premise as Shown
The reveal centers on a protagonist, reported to be Eleanor, on a journey to become a Vesselai, one of the warriors able to wield the power called Anima. Her path appears to begin at an academy named Leukos, where students train toward that calling, and at least part of the story follows her tutelage there.
A World in Conflict
Early material indicates that people sought to harness Anima, and that this pursuit feeds the conflict the story sets up. The reveal frames battles as being decided by Anima and the Vesselai who wield it, which positions the power at the heart of the premise. Beyond this broad framing, no specific plot beats have been shown.
A Fresh Starting Point
Coverage of the reveal stresses that Genesis is meant to be a standalone entry point that does not require prior knowledge of the franchise. This matches Nintendo's framing of the game as "a new beginning for the Xenoblade series." For more on how this entry stands apart from earlier games, see Series Context: How Genesis Differs From Xenoblade Chronicles.
Setting
The premise unfolds in a high-fantasy world that, according to the reveal, takes the form of a ring-shaped land lit by several suns. The world and its named locations are covered in more detail on the Setting and World page.
What Is Not Yet Known
Plot specifics remain almost entirely unrevealed. Antagonists, party members, story twists, themes, and the ending have not been shown or confirmed. These details are deferred until Nintendo shares more about the game.