Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Unveiling New Story Details and Gameplay Enhancements

A fresh trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition offers deeper insights into the game's narrative and characters. The original game concluded with a cliffhanger, but this upcoming release promises added story content, potentially resolving the lingering questions from the original ending. Originally launched in 2015 for the Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X now makes its way to the Nintendo Switch.

The "The Year is 2054" trailer features Elma, a key protagonist, recounting the events leading to the characters' arrival on Mira. Gameplay footage showcases the updated experience, tailored for the Switch, given the absence of the Wii U's GamePad functionality.

The Xenoblade Chronicles series, a JRPG creation from Monolith Soft's Tetsuya Takahashi, is a Nintendo exclusive. The first title nearly saw a Japan-only release, but a fan campaign, Operation Rainfall, brought it to Western audiences. Its success spawned three sequels: Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (mainline entries), and the spin-off Xenoblade Chronicles X. The XCX: Definitive Edition release completes the series' availability on the Nintendo Switch.

A new trailer highlights the plot of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. In 2054, Earth is caught in an intergalactic conflict between alien races. Before its destruction, a group of humans escapes aboard the White Whale ark, searching for a new home. Their perilous journey leads them to Mira, but the Lifehold—a crucial technology keeping most passengers in stasis—is lost during the crash. The player's mission: find the Lifehold before its power depletes.

Expanded Narrative and Streamlined Gameplay

The definitive edition expands upon the original's cliffhanger ending with new story sections. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a large-scale RPG. Beyond the main BLADE mission (finding the Lifehold), players explore Mira, deploy probes, and combat native and alien creatures to secure humanity's new home.

The Wii U version heavily utilized the GamePad, serving as a map and interaction tool. The new trailer demonstrates how these features have been adapted for the Switch. The GamePad interface is now a dedicated menu. A mini-map, similar to other Xenoblade titles, is in the upper-right corner, and other UI elements have been integrated into the main screen. The result is a seemingly uncluttered UI, although this adaptation might subtly alter the gameplay experience compared to the original.