Nintendo shadow dropped the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition in late February 2026. While we knew it was just a matter of time, it’s great to see the rumors and reports finally come true. For those of you on the fence about picking this up via an upgrade or just flat out buying the game, we’re here to help. Let’s get into it.
Background
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was released digitally on Thursday, February 19, 2026 worldwide. A physical version for the system is being prepped for release on April 16. If you’re like me and already own a copy of the game on the Nintendo Switch, an Upgrade Pack is available for ¥550 / $4.99 (USD). If you don’t own the game, it runs ¥8,150 / $64.99 (USD) on the eShop, while the physical version will run for ¥8,228 / $64.99. As for download size, the Switch 1 version is a 13.5 GB download versus a 14.7 GB download on the Switch 2.
Visual Enhancements
While no additional content was added to this Switch 2 version of Chronicles X, the game did see quite a facelift when it comes to visuals. The game runs at 60 frames per second on Switch 2 and can reach 4K when played on the TV. For handheld mode, 60 fps is also available with the game running at 1080p.
I checked out the game in both docked and handheld and the results here were pretty impressive. The jump to 4K is pretty great. The Switch 1 version already took what was great about the title on Wii U and just made it might more bright and vibrant. This holds true here and the game just looks sharper overall. Although this upgrade is nice, the real star here is the jump to 60 fps. Between playing through the game on both the Wii U in 2015 and the Switch 1 in 2025, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the world of Mira when it was running at 30 fps. This increase in the framerate really does make the game feel like a more modern title. Things are super smooth and frame dips, while happening occasionally, are still few and far between.
Even though the new visual upgrade does make Chronicles X look quite a bit better, some of the issues that have plagued the game since the Wii U days are still present, particularly with asset pop-in/pop-up. You can get a good look at this on the start screen after waiting for a little while. There, the game showcases the various areas across Mira without enemies or other visual HUD elements so you can just focus on the beauty of the world that Monolith Soft crafted. Yes, it does look great overall, but some of the texture pop in is very noticeable. Rocky areas randomly have different areas load in, the giant ring in in the desert area Oblivia has sporadic parts of the ring load in and out, some of the vegetation in Noctilum hangs a bit in loading and more.
I found this is a bit disappointing, however I will say this - when you are playing the game, taking on (or running away from) enemies, making progress in quests, etc., this is something that many will overlook. And to be perfectly fair, this doesn’t take away from the overall game in the slightest. The intriguing story, fun gameplay and huge world are unaffected by this. Again, with the intro “tours” specifically focusing on the environment, these kind of things are more likely to show up or be noticed as opposed to when you’re playing the game. If this is something you can accept, you’re still in store for a great experience that looks better than ever.
Conclusion
When it boils down to it, the Switch 2 update to Xenoblae Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes the game look more like a modern game…for the most part. Even with some of the visual inconsistencies or hiccups, it’s still important to remember that this is a game from 2015 that has been upscaled to 4K and pushed to 60 frames per second. The game wasn’t originally designed to perform this way, but it does an admirable enough job. If you’re upgrading from the Switch 1 version, this is a pretty cheap no brainier decision - go for it! I would also recommend this version if you have been holding out for a better frame rate and resolution.
But let’s turn things over to you guys. Did you play Xenoblade Chronicles X back in the day on the Wii U? Did you check it out on the Switch 1? Like I mentioned previously, I played through the game on both the Wii U and Switch 1. Actually, as a bit of a humble brag, I was one of the first people to cover the Japanese Wii U release with numerous impressions and a review over on Nintendo World Report back in 2015. Anyway, sound off in the comments down below. We’d love to hear from you.
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