Let’s Talk About Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

It finally happened.

I can’t believe this day is finally here.

Last Tuesday, I was minding my own business and doing a little writing when what should pop up on my Twitter feed but the announcement of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for the Switch?!

It’s real, and it’s coming soon. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will be out on March 20.

I’ve been waiting for a Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster for so long now. Trapped on the Wii U, it felt like the forgotten Xenoblade entry that most fans would never play.

Back in April, on the game’s anniversary, I discussed the situation and my hopes that a Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster would be an early Switch 2 title with a sequel to follow. I never imagined a Switch remaster was still in the cards.

Not only that, but it will include “brand-new story elements.” From the looks of the trailer, that at least means they’ll be expanding a certain epilogue scene.

(Due to that, I recommend not watching the whole trailer unless you’ve already played the game.)

I loved Xenoblade Chronicles X so much more than I expected to. Leading up to its launch, I was nervous about it because of it being open world, but it completely won me over despite having a lesser focus on story than other entries in the series.

Aside from the expanded scene in the trailer, there’s very little we know about the remaster. The graphics look largely the same, but it’s clear the faces have been redone. The online features are back, as they’re confirmed on the store page, with a Nintendo Switch Online 14-day trial included with digital orders.

Other additions or changes are still unknown, although I hope to see some quality-of-life improvements so I don’t need to keep notes on where to find my party members again.

Now, you might remember that when Xenoblade Chronicles X originally launched, there was some controversy over censorship of the western version. The main things were the removal of the breast slider in character customization, altering Lin’s costumes to make them less revealing, and changing the fundoshi costume. So of course, that’s led to questions about how this would be handled in a remaster.

Nintendo’s Japanese webpage for the Definitive Edition has two notes near the bottom: one that says it’s based on the Western version of Xenoblade Chronicles X and another that says all of the Wii U’s DLC version is included from the start.

The original game had several DLC characters and other DLC content that was all included in the base game for the Western release, so that’s what the second note is about. That’s where things get tricky. The initial assumption was that all versions of the Definitive Edition would include the Western version’s changes, but without the details being specified, it’s possible that the first note only refers to the included DLC.

To make matters more confusing, an eagle-eyed fan noticed that the trailer includes a shot of a shop sign that says “Find your own Buddy,” which is the text present in the Japanese version of the Wii U game while the Western sign was instead changed to “Find your Dream Skell.” The original sign being shown in the English trailer could mean some elements have been altered to match the Japanese version after all.

I’m sure it will become clearer in time. Either way, I’m just thrilled that Xenoblade Chronicles X is finally coming back.

This makes our chances of getting a Xenoblade Chronicles X 2 better than ever. While some fans are concerned the Definitive Edition will wrap up all the loose ends so they won’t make a sequel, I think the game left too many things unanswered to all be resolved here. Moreover, this is the game’s big chance. As long as it sells well, a sequel feels like a very real possibility for the first time in years.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will be out on March 20. I haven’t ordered it yet, but only because I’m hoping they’ll announce a Collector’s Edition. Are you planning to play it?