Yesterday, Nintendo shared a new trailer for the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.
I’m still in shock that we’re finally getting a Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster, and the new trailer made me even more excited.
It shows some UI improvements (including the text being bigger now), an on-screen Overdrive guide, and similar adjustments, but the best part for me is the greater look at the new content.
We knew from the announcement trailer that the Definitive Edition would expand on the original game’s final scene, which showed a mysterious figure known as the “Black Knight” in the art book. The new trailer expands on that… and more.
The final part of the trailer shows a new area, with floating islands that the player is exploring. This will most likely be the area we explore in the new story content. It looks beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what secrets it holds.
But that’s not all.
Besides the Black Knight (now with a few hints as to his identity), we also see a new character in strange armor who appears to be an ally, as well as a new Qlurian character.
The especially interesting thing about the Qlurian is that she was also in the art book.
Named Neilnail, she never appears in the original game, but now it seems she’ll have a role to play in the remaster.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a game I wanted for a long time just because a port or remaster would increase our chances of getting a sequel. Now, it looks like it will not only expand the epilogue with new story content, but also include content that was originally planned but didn’t make it into the final game. The only disappointing thing for me is that they still haven’t revealed any sort of special edition.
Are you planning to get Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition when it launches on March 20?
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?
Xenoblade Chronicles has become incredibly popular since the days of that first niche release we almost didn’t get in North America . These three games are now beloved by JRPG fans…
What, you say there’s four games? Ah yes, because Torna ~ the Golden Country was sold as a standalone release, right?
That’s sadly how it feels sometimes; while the main Xenoblade trilogy has soared in popularity, Xenoblade Chronicles X remains the odd game out, overshadowed by the other three and sometimes even forgotten entirely.
Today is the 9th anniversary of Xenoblade Chronicles X’s release. It came out on April 29, 2015 in Japan and would follow in other regions in December.
Although I had my doubts about it ahead of launch, I ended up loving it despite it being a fully open world game with a lessened emphasis on story. The worldbuilding, humor, characters, and exploration were that good.
Look how optimistic I was back when I wrote that review, ending with the hope that we would see Xenoblade Chronicles X 2 at E3 2016. Here we are 9 years later, and not only do we not have a sequel, but we got two other Xenoblade games and a remaster in the meantime.
Since Xenoblade Chronicles X is still stranded on the Wii U, far fewer people have played it than the others. That’s why it’s overlooked so often. Because of that, the farther we’ve gotten from it, the more I’ve hoped for a port or remaster to be announced. I want a Xenoblade Chronicles X sequel, and I think our best chance of getting that is if X is ported first and reaches a bigger audience.
With how many Wii U games made the jump to the Switch and how popular Xenoblade has become, it’s kind of shocking that Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the few that’s still a Wii U exclusive.
Back in 2018, director Tetsuya Takahashi said in an interview that bringing X to the Switch would be “really difficult.” He said it was a money issue, because of how massive X is.
In the time since that 2018 interview, the Xenoblade series has become more popular than ever. Now we’re getting near the end of the Switch’s life, and rumors of its successor are on the horizon. Few things would make me happier than if Xenoblade Chronicles X was one of the first titles announced (hopefully to pave the way for a Xenoblade Chronicles X 2). Here’s hoping the series’ success on the switch is enough to make it worth the effort to port Xenoblade Chronicles X and give it a second chance to shine!
Yesterday, Nintendo shared a new trailer for the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.
