After years of rejection, negation, and claims that it required extra effort than was economically possible, Xenoblade Chronicles X was launched from the shackles of the Wii U and launched on the Nintendo Swap. Virtually a yr later, Nintendo and Monolith Smooth have upgraded the sport one final time for Swap 2, releasing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version – Nintendo Swap 2 Version.
Along with updating the variety of instances the phrase “version” seems within the title, the staff additionally confirmed that the sport will likely be correctly evaluated on Nintendo’s next-gen {hardware}. It is not an costly improve, coming in at simply $5, however contemplating how massive the dedication is to the sport, solely essentially the most die-hard Xenoblade followers will want the improve.
Fortunately, I’m certainly one of them. After spending round 50 hours on final yr’s Swap model and one other 50 hours on the most recent improve, this newest model is nearly as good as ever, however in case you’ve already put within the equal of a full work week and extra time hours, I might say there’s not a lot to say.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is essentially unbiased from the opposite video games within the sequence, and would not even happen inside the similar universe as the opposite video games. That makes X the right start line for people who find themselves within the sequence however have by no means touched the opposite video games. This new improve not solely provides you entry to probably the greatest motion RPGs ever made, but additionally provides you a nifty efficiency increase to 60FPS and 4K.
Nonetheless, in case you’ve already performed this recreation on Wii U or final yr’s Swap re-release, there’s not a lot to enchantment to you past the efficiency increase. It is the very same recreation, no new content material in any respect. That is not inherently a nasty factor, as the sport is sweet, but it surely’s an journey that can take up fairly a little bit of your time if in case you have the cash to spare.
the world past
Xenoblade Chronicles X first got here out on the Wii U in 2015, and whereas I did not play it as a result of I did not have entry to the {hardware} on the time, its huge, expansive world at all times appealed to me. After turning into hopelessly obsessive about the sequence because the launch of Xenoblade Chronicles Remastered on the unique Swap in 2020, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the devoted and shared a need for X to obtain related therapy.
Set on the planet Mira, Xenoblade Chronicles X tells the story of humanity’s determined escape from Earth to a brand new, unknown world. That is a type of video games that actually will get hooked up to your soul in case you let it. Regardless of its epic sci-fi setting, there’s one thing about its world, characters, and story that feels very intimate.
Xenoblade Chronicles X first got here out on the Wii U in 2015, and whereas I did not play it as a result of I did not have entry to the {hardware} on the time, its huge, expansive world at all times appealed to me.
No new content material has been added to the Swap 2 revision, so in case you’ve already performed the sport on Wii U or Swap final yr, there’s nothing you have not already skilled. So until you actually need to take a look at the brand new efficiency upgrades, or simply need to play this timeless traditional once more, it is arduous to suggest leaping in once more.
Truthfully, this is among the video games I add to my annual playlist. This is not an extended checklist, however we imagine this is among the finest motion RPGs of all time, and a powerful contender for certainly one of Monolith’s finest video games. It is actually fairly cute, has some stunning music, and the fight is as clean as ever.
I actually really feel it
An important a part of this Swap 2 iteration comes within the type of efficiency and picture upgrades. As talked about above, the bottom recreation would not embody any new content material of observe and is precisely the identical because the one launched on Swap 1 in March 2025. On the subject of these efficiency upgrades, Monolith Smooth has put in fairly a little bit of effort to deliver the sport as much as par with next-gen rivals.
Picture high quality improves, albeit barely. That being stated, the sport was superb on the Wii U and excellent on the Swap, so the incremental improve is a little bit of a disgrace. It appears to be like nice on a big 4K show and appears extremely sharp in moveable mode. This can be a recreation that appears nice it doesn’t matter what, and proof that good artwork course can take you a lot additional than even essentially the most highly effective {hardware} ever may.
By way of efficiency, Xenoblade Chronicles X on Swap 2 is focused at 60FPS. The excellent news is that, by and huge, we obtain and preserve it regularly. Again on the Wii U, we have come a good distance since we had been concentrating on 720P and 30FPS. Nonetheless, regardless of the comparatively secure 60FPS lock, it could actually drop throughout sure busy scenes. I feel this isn’t utterly sudden and ought to be thought of roughly customary in open world 3D video games, however you ought to be conscious that framerate could also be barely negatively affected.
It appears to be like nice on a big 4K show and appears extremely sharp in moveable mode.
On the finish of the day, whether or not Xenoblade Chronicles X’s Swap 2 improve is one thing you are enthusiastic about is dependent upon what you are in it for. In the event you’re somebody who already pours hours into Wii U or OG Swap video games, it is arduous to completely suggest this recreation, particularly when it runs so nice on the unique Swap and targets 30FPS. It is an extremely secure expertise.
Then again, in case you’ve by no means performed this recreation for even a second, this can be a nice introduction to the sequence. It is separate from different video games, so there is not any lore or mythology you want to know. Its unbiased nature has additionally been a constant energy of the sport over time. It additionally has a fairly distinctive construction in comparison with different video games, and in case you full this one first, the expertise of the opposite video games will really feel somewhat extra constant from recreation to recreation.
Personally, I feel this recreation is a must-see no less than as soon as in case you’re a fan of sci-fi and open-world 3D RPGs. The world is gorgeous, the fight is nice, and the exploration is second to none. The improve itself is pretty primary, but it surely’s not utterly with out advantages.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version – Nintendo Swap 2 Version might irresponsibly contribute to poor online game naming conventions, but it surely’s nonetheless a fully improbable expertise. Sadly, so far as new content material is worried, it lacks something apart from efficiency upgrades, making it tough to suggest it to sequence veterans. The efficiency upgrades are fairly good and the value is truthful at $5, however you may most likely be simply as glad replaying it on the unique Swap so long as you needn’t spend one other 50+ hours on it.