Nintendo announces 'Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition' for Switch with March 2025 release

Nintendo reveals 'Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition' for Switch

Nintendo has officially announced the long-anticipated release of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch, scheduled for March 20, 2025. Originally launched on the Wii U in 2015, the RPG developed by Monolith Soft is receiving significant updates in its port to the Switch, including enhanced graphics and brand-new story content. According to Nintendo, these upgrades aim to make the game more engaging even for those who played the original version, with “brand-new story elements” yet to be fully detailed.

The story of Xenoblade Chronicles X unfolds in the year 2054, as humans struggle to survive on the alien planet of Mira after fleeing Earth amidst an intergalactic war. Players assume the role of a New Los Angeles (NLA) colony member tasked with building a new home on the hostile planet, navigating five vast continents filled with creatures and challenges. The game allows players to create and customize their characters, join the BLADE organization, and eventually pilot a customizable mech called a Skell for combat and exploration.

In the announcement trailer, the visual upgrades are immediately apparent, and Nintendo hinted at the involvement of a "mysterious hooded figure on the beach," potentially connected to the new storyline elements. In addition to single-player quests, players can join online squads to tackle multiplayer-specific missions, including the challenging Global Nemesis Battles. Nintendo's official description promises "a comprehensive battle system that’s as deep as you want it to be."

The original Xenoblade Chronicles X was praised for its open-world design and complexity, laying the foundation for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which was released on the Switch in 2017. The upcoming Definitive Edition is expected to attract both longtime fans and newcomers to the Xenoblade universe as Nintendo continues to expand its RPG offerings for the Switch.