One of the Best Wii U Game Was Just Shadow Dropped for the Switch 2

by

A new version of Xenoblade Chronicles X is now available for the Nintendo Switch 2! Nintendo unexpectedly released it on the eShop, and a physical copy will be available in stores in spring 2026.

I first played Xenoblade Chronicles X when it came out on the Wii U back in 2015, and it quickly became one of my favorite games on the system. Critics really loved it too – OpenCritic has 76 reviews with an average score of 84 and 88% of reviewers recommending it! That puts it among the very best Wii U games ever made – it’s ranked 22nd out of over 790 titles. And good news for anyone who missed it – they released a complete “Definitive Edition” in March 2025 that everyone’s been raving about just as much.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Gets Surprise Switch 2 Upgrade

Nintendo unexpectedly released an updated version of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for the Switch 2 today, February 19th, via the eShop. The update includes visual improvements, such as higher resolution – up to 4K when played docked – and smoother gameplay with frame rates up to 60fps. Players who already own the original Switch version can upgrade for $4.99, and new players can buy the enhanced Switch 2 Edition digitally for $64.99.

Who’s That Character? Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
5.0s
0/10

Results

0

High Score: 0 —

More Games

As a huge fan, I was so excited to finally play Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on the Switch 2! It’s available digitally right now, which was a cool surprise. But if you’re like me and prefer a physical copy, don’t worry – Nintendo has said it’s coming out on April 16, 2026. I’m a little confused why they didn’t release both versions at the same time, but I’m guessing they wanted the digital release to be a surprise. It’s interesting because usually, when big Switch 2 games with physical copies are planned, retailers start listing them weeks in advance. We often find out details that way! We even saw leaks about the Switch 2 hardware itself before it was officially announced – a GameStop employee figured out some storage specs from product codes months early. It just shows how hard it is to keep secrets these days!

Initial reactions to the game’s upgrade are varied. While many fans on YouTube are excited about the improved performance and are hoping Nintendo updates other games in the series, others feel that existing owners should have received the upgrade for free.

When Nintendo released its newest console in March 2025, a lot of games originally made for the older Switch received performance improvements for the new system, and those upgrades were offered as free downloads – as long as the games didn’t come with any extra content. However, some upgraded versions, like those of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, required players to pay extra for better resolution and frame rates, which upset many fans. It’s not clear when Nintendo decided to charge for these upgrades, but it seems they were planning the Switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles X for at least a year. References to a smoother 60 frames-per-second mode were found in the game’s code as early as early 2025.

Nintendo hasn’t confirmed if the new Switch 2 version of the game will run at a smooth 60 frames per second. However, the original Switch version of Xenoblade Chronicles X generally ran at a stable 30fps and was commended for fixing technical problems from the first release. With the Switch 2 being much more powerful, it’s likely the new version will perform even better.

Read More

2026-02-20 00:39