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Now that we’ve taken the time to really process the news that Xenoblade Chronicles
Now we want to start by nipping something in the bud. After Nintendo’s first trailer was released, a few comparison videos began popping up comparing the Definitive Edition to the Wii U original. Most notably, an upload of Nintendo World Report TV prompted a few fans to claim that the new version censors Elma’s costume. Well, we’re here to tell you that that’s absolutely not true.
The Switch sequence features Elma in her default costume, while the Wii U sequence contains one of her unlockable outfits. If you check out the game’s existing walkthroughs on YouTube, you’ll find that Elma’s first introduction to the player shows her in the exact same costume as the Switch version. So that’s it. Now, can we say with absolute certainty that some costumes weren’t changed or that Elma’s unlockable costume wasn’t cut for the Definitive Edition? No, but that seems pretty unlikely given the franchise’s overall momentum on Switch.
However, the discourse does not stop there. According to the Japanese page for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, it appears that the new version is based on the Western version of the original. If you recall, the Japanese variant contained character customization options that were censored for the Western launch, including a slider to change the female protagonist’s chest size and costume modifications for Lin’s character .
Naturally, if the new version is based on the Western version, it is likely that these aspects will remain censored, even for the Japanese. We must emphasize, however, that the examples mentioned above truly represent the extent of the censorship and will not affect how the game plays or how the story presents itself. It’s up to you to decide whether this still affects your own potential enjoyment.
Either way, we’re excited to see Xenoblade Chronicles X coming to Switch. It is generally considered somewhat inferior to the numbered series, but thanks to its absurdly large open world, incredible mechanical design, and overall darker tone, it has gained a legion of devoted fans.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will launch on March 20, 2025.
