There was already talk of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles. In fact, for several months, and in the early months before release, the game code included a “60 fps mode” with a setting that would have rendered Monolith Soft’s latest remaster at up to 4K. Well, in a surprise drop, Nintendo is releasing the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the title, originally released for Nintendo Wii U way back in 2015 and re-released on Nintendo Switch just a year ago.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version, however, is limited to a mere technical and graphical upgrade, raising the resolution and frame rate, offering the whole thing at a price of CHF 5.00 for those who already own the title in the first Nintendo Switch version. In other words, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition promises to overcome the technical limitations found on the previous-generation console, focusing decisively on improving the fluidity and overall image clarity, as mentioned above.
A Mira twice as smooth!
The beating heart of this upgrade undoubtedly lies in reaching the 60 fps target, a performance leap that radically transforms the perception of movement and control responsiveness, from the home screen to exploring the majestic Mira. While the original version on Nintendo Switch suffered from sometimes penalizing input lag and frame rate drops that dropped below 30 fps, the additional power of the new console almost completely resolves these issues. The improved fluidity isn't just cosmetic, but a functional improvement that makes exploring the vast world of Mira much more enjoyable and combat more natural and fluid thanks to the doubled frame rate.
The resolution increase is good but…Nintendo, what are you doing to me?
From a purely visual point of view, The Nintendo Switch 2's impact is characterized by superior image clarity. (Look at that beautiful Elma just above!), although the miracles promised in the trailers regarding 4K resolution should be interpreted with some caution. While the game appears significantly more crystal-clear than in the past, the lack of a more refined anti-aliasing system and deeper texture filtering is noticeable, especially when viewing terrain details from tilted angles. Some of the game engine's longstanding flaws remain visible, such as object and environment pop-in, which doesn't appear to have benefited from significant structural improvements despite the upgrade to higher-performance hardware. As for the portable experience, the increase in clarity is noticeable and welcome, offering a more defined view of the game world than its Switch counterpart. But these are critical issues that, in our opinion, aren't problematic and don't impact the gameplay experience (which, remember, started at a much lower resolution on the Nintendo Wii U). The problems lie elsewhere. Some preliminary tests suggest the presence of an upscaling system that, in certain fast-moving situations, tends to generate some image instability that is more evident on the console's screen than in docked mode. While this phenomenon doesn't ruin the overall experience, it represents a small flaw in a package that otherwise guarantees solid technical stability, superior to any previous iteration of the title. Indeed, citing Digital Foundry, it was clearly stated that the image, when in motion, degrades rapidly, with surfaces reminiscent of a watercolor effect. A real shame, given the artistic direction behind this title. Unfortunately, we can only confirm this. The situation just described unfortunately occurred several times during our gameplay sessions, particularly while exploring the caves north of Primordia.
Ultimately, this update for Nintendo Switch 2 represents an almost obligatory investment for anyone who wants to experience the definitive version of Xenoblade Chronicles X, even without expecting a complete graphical overhaul. However, given the overall experience, it's worth considering whether to stick with the base version, albeit with a cleaner image, or switch to 60 fps, risking the aforementioned issues while waiting for a corrective patch. This is a real shame, given the obvious gains in performance and fluidity in the gameplay experience. Below is the game's presentation trailer, reminding you that the update or the full Nintendo Switch 2 version will be available for purchase starting February 19, 2026: