'Xenoblade Chronicles X' got announced — why it could be great for Switch gamers who are new to the franchise

It's been almost 10 years since Xenoblade Chronicles X amazed the approximately 27 people who played it on Wii U, but now that number is going to get a lot bigger.

The series that I once called "Nintendo's most unsung" is now fully complete on Switch, as Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launches on Nintendo's current console on March 20, 2025. This new port from series developer Monolith Soft promises improved visuals and extra story content for the gargantuan RPG that originally launched on the failed Wii U system fairly late in its life cycle in 2015.

In case you missed it at the time (and you almost certainly did), Xenoblade X is narratively disconnected from the other Xenoblade games, making it a great place to jump in if you've ever been curious. It's an absolutely massive open-world RPG set across five distinct and beautiful continents on an alien planet called Mira, where humanity wants to find refuge after Earth has been destroyed in the crossfire of an alien war.

Its two main draws are an enormous open world and fully customizable mech suits that let you fly and unlock new areas. It's one of the most memorable open worlds in recent game history, so much so that Nintendo commissioned Monolith Soft's help on getting The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild across the finish line shortly after Xenoblade X came out.

You can also expect a bunch of goofy stuff like the main city on Mira being called "New Los Angeles," and combat classes having names like "Partisan Eagle" and "Full Metal Jaguar."

Nearly a decade later, after several popular Xenoblade sequels and re-releases, the last great Wii U exclusive is finally coming to the Switch. Breathe easy, Xenoblade-heads.