STACK #258 April 2026

GAMING FEATURE

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Xenoplayed The game’s soundtrack was crafted by noted anime composer Hiroyuki Sawano, whose credits include Attack on Titan and Mobile Suit Gundam . He was approached by one of the game’s writers, Tetsuya Takahashi, who was a big fan of the composer’s work.

GENRE: Action RPG MULTIPLAYER: Yes

FORMAT:

Xenoblade fans rejoice, for this month sees the arrival of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition , bringing all the established action along with a bunch of quality bumps to Nintendo’s red-hot latest console. Here’s a taste of what to look forward to. Words Amy Flower WELCOME to SKELL !

we welcomed autosave. That would be our preference any day! All these improvements expanded upon the base game, which saw the return of popular co operative multiplayer functions such as Global Nemesis Battles. What does the Switch 2 version deliver? While no new game content has been added to this Switch 2 upgrade – Nintendo did a pretty good job of delivering a whole swathe of it when unleashing the Switch version - there are significant quality of life improvements. Aiming to harness the additional power of the Switch 2, players can now look forward to the game running at upscaled 4K resolution on compatible televisions. The frame rate has also received a significant bump, now targeting 60fps in 4K over the original 30 at 1080p, which has the knockon effect of improving the game’s responsiveness. Graphics have also received further attention from their original Switch upgrade, with improved textures on everything

What was new on the Switch port? The original 2015 game was a Nintendo Wii U exclusive that made extensive use of that console’s gamepad. As such, the journey to the Switch – and now Switch 2 – sees gameplay tweaked accordingly, with a special menu that allows easy access to features, while other UI functions now appear on the main screen. Beyond such practical changes, when updating for the Switch the developers also grabbed the opportunity to bring enhanced visuals to the party, including textures and character models, and they look an absolute treat. Plus, four new characters joined the fray in Neilnail, Liesel, Ga Jiarg, and Al, and two new Skells – the exoskeleton mechs used to get around the planet Mira – in Hraesvelg and Ares Prime. Speaking of characters, a welcome new addition was the ability to change party members on the fly via a menu, as well as allotting EXP to characters that aren’t in the currently active party. This injection of newness tied in with additions that were made to the story, with a

narrative that expanded upon the post-credits scene of the original, featuring Lao Huang and a mysterious hooded figure. A new mechanic called Quick Recast, attached to the ‘Y’ button, sped up cooldowns for Arts. Coupled with a gauge, there’s no spamming it, but it certainly comes in handy in tight battles. Fans also rejoiced at improved tracking, which took most of the guesswork out of navigating quests, as well as an easing up of the ability to gain those precious Affinity Points. Interestingly, the BLADE levels of the original were completely removed from existence. But while that functionality was taken away,

from characters to the environments in which

they roam, as well as some fabulous new lighting effects. Those who play in handheld mode don’t miss out, with the game now targeting 60fps in 1080p, offering a significant visual upgrade on the Switch version. So, get ready to head back into 2054 and do your best to save humanity – as always, we’re counting on you!

• Xenoblade Chronicles X: f i nitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is out Apr 16 De

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