Xenoblade Chronicles X Unveils Storyline Details

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Unveils New Story Details in Latest Trailer

A new trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition offers fresh insights into the game's narrative and characters. The "The Year is 2054" trailer, narrated by protagonist Elma, details the events leading to humanity's arrival on the planet Mira after Earth's destruction in an intergalactic conflict. The footage also showcases adapted gameplay, optimized for the Nintendo Switch following the removal of Wii U GamePad functionality.

The Xenoblade Chronicles series, a JRPG franchise from Monolith Soft's Tetsuya Takahashi, boasts a dedicated Nintendo following. The original Xenoblade Chronicles, initially a Japan-exclusive title, gained a global audience thanks to the fan-driven Operation Rainfall campaign. This success spawned three sequels: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3, and the spin-off, Xenoblade Chronicles X. The Definitive Edition's Switch release makes the entire series accessible on a single platform.

The trailer highlights the 2054 Earth-based conflict and the subsequent escape of humanity aboard the White Whale ark, ultimately crash-landing on Mira. A key plot point centers on the lost Lifehold, a crucial life support system containing most of the human passengers in stasis. The player's mission is to locate the Lifehold before its power reserves are depleted.

Expanded Narrative in the Definitive Edition

While the original game concluded on a cliffhanger, the Definitive Edition promises to add new story content, potentially resolving the unresolved ending. Known for its scale and depth, Xenoblade Chronicles X tasks players with not only finding the Lifehold as members of BLADE, but also exploring Mira, deploying probes, and engaging in battles against both native and alien lifeforms to secure humanity's new home.

The Wii U version relied heavily on the GamePad, utilizing it as a dynamic map and interaction tool. The trailer demonstrates how these features have been seamlessly integrated into the Switch version. The GamePad's functionality is now accessed via a dedicated menu, a mini-map resides in the upper-right corner of the screen (consistent with other Xenoblade titles), and other UI elements have been smoothly incorporated into the main screen. While the updated UI appears uncluttered, these changes may subtly alter the gameplay experience compared to the original Wii U release.