Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition may be the best way to play Nintendo’s hit RPG, according to a video that compared each version of Xenoblade Chronicles from a graphical and performance standpoint. From the start, the recently-released Switch 2 port of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition immediately stood out from its predecessors.
Xenoblade Chronicles first launched on the Wii in Japan in June 2010, with launches in other territories across 2011 and 2012. Xenoblade Chronicles tells the story of Shulk, a boy who experiences brief visions of events seconds before they happen. Wielding a mysterious sword called the Monado, Shulk and his companions travel across the titanic bodies of the Bionis and the Mechonis on a journey that includes the most iconic plot twist in the JRPG genre. Years later, Xenoblade Chronicles was ported to the New Nintendo 3DS in April 2015 and to the Nintendo Switch in May 2020.
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Xenoblade Chronicles Looks Better Than Ever on Switch 2
Now, one of the best games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series looks even better thanks to the arrival of its Switch 2 port. A YouTube video by ElAnalistaDeBits shared some looks into how the first few hours of Xenoblade Chronicles played out across the Wii, New Nintendo 3DS, Switch, and Switch 2 editions of the game. From the start, the video noted how the first three versions of Xenoblade Chronicles ran at 30 frames per second (FPS) at different resolutions.
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The New 3DS and Wii versions were locked to 240p and 480p resolutions, respectively, while the original Switch release of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition ran at a dynamic 540p resolution in handheld mode and dynamic 720p while docked. By comparison, the Switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition runs at a consistent 60 FPS in most situations, with a 1080p resolution in handheld mode and an upscaled 4K resolution while docked.
Given that the Switch 2 is stated to have 10 times the graphical power of the original Switch, the upscaled 4K textures in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition likely utilized Nvidia’s DLSS technology. However, the graphics upgrade is not the only change that Switch 2 players can experience. Most of Xenoblade Chronicles‘ Heart-to-Heart conversations between characters have been fully voiced. Additionally, after completing the quest called “World-Changing Whatchamajig” near the Refugee Camp on the Bionis’ Leg, players can access a vehicle called the Ether Jet. The jet can then be used to traverse the open worlds of the base Xenoblade Chronicles game and the Future Connected expansion as needed.
The Switch 2 release of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition marked a turning point for Nintendo and Monolith Soft. Earlier in 2026, the Switch 2 port of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition was marred by controversy as players reported performance issues compared to the original Switch version. In response to the performance issues, Nintendo granted refunds to Xenoblade Chronicles X players who requested one.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
As of this writing, the digital version of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available for $69.99 on the Nintendo Store, with a $9.99 upgrade pack for players who already have the Switch version. Additionally, the Switch 2 ports for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will also be released digitally on July 30 and December 3, respectively.
- Released
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May 29, 2020
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
