Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - March 20, 2025

[Derb]

Didn’t get far into the Wii U version.

First introduction to the franchise, I’m glad Nintendo is preserving this one.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by Talal86

there's a physical switch/ps4 release

There's also a physical Japanese Wii U release, as well as a physical European Wii U release.

The European release was a Limited Edition only, which is now crazy expensive.

The European release was censored and 2 costumes were censored/replaced, but at least it has 2 additional Nintendo costumes, which are great on their own.

The Switch/PS4 port removed all of these.
And on top of that the physical Switch release does not have English on the cart, but you get English via a download patch, this means that when servers are closed down, it's over. No idea if the same was done for PS4.

These are the European Wii U exclusive outfits (Zelda + Samus)


Anyhow, this means that the physical release situation for Project Zero 5 is objectively worse in regards of English support for the Switch. There is neither a European physical release nor an American physical release, and the only physical release doesn't have English on cart and is censored on top of that and even missing the European outfits.

At least Project Zero 4 for Switch has English on cart, and there was a beautiful Collector's Edition, but of course all of that is Asia/Japan only.


The story of Project Zero 5 is about a gravure girl/idol and that culture in Japan. The game is critical of that, which is great, but they then not only removed outfits, but also removed at least one flashback cutscene in the game, which is just stupid.
https://nichegamer.com/nintendo-cens...f-black-water/

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by jimidini

There's also a physical Japanese Wii U release, as well as a physical European Wii U release.

The European release was a Limited Edition only, which is now crazy expensive.

The European release was censored and 2 costumes were censored/replaced, but at least it has 2 additional Nintendo costumes, which are great on their own.

The Switch/PS4 port removed all of these.
And on top of that the physical Switch release does not have English on the cart, but you get English via a download patch, this means that when servers are closed down, it's over. No idea if the same was done for PS4.

These are the European Wii U exclusive outfits (Zelda + Samus)


Anyhow, this means that the physical release situation for Project Zero 5 is objectively worse in regards of English support for the Switch. There is neither a European physical release nor an American physical release, and the only physical release doesn't have English on cart and is censored on top of that and even missing the European outfits.

At least Project Zero 4 for Switch has English on cart, and there was a beautiful Collector's Edition, but of course all of that is Asia/Japan only.


The story of Project Zero 5 is about a gravure girl/idol and that culture in Japan. The game is critical of that, which is great, but they then not only removed outfits, but also removed at least one flashback cutscene in the game, which is just stupid.
https://nichegamer.com/nintendo-cens...f-black-water/

Wii U was a region locked console, so physical copies for PAL or Japan meant little for North America.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Wii U was a region locked console, so physical copies for PAL or Japan meant little for North America.

If you can import games for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can also import a console - easily.
That's what I did.
Wii U is a very import friendly console, just replace the power adapter with an American/European one and it will work. Simple as that.
Controllers also work, even the Wii U gamepad is cross-region, except regarding updates. Controllers were dirt cheap in Japan, and kinda still are compared to the insane prices in western countries.

"Region free" is a useless gimmick.
I would prefer a region locked Switch, if that would mean uncensored games in Japan.

Back then I bought the Japanese Wii U Xenoblade X bundle (black 32 GB Wii U), beautiful box for only around 19.000 Yen.
I have spent more than that this month on Japanese Switch game imports.

And with Wii U, I always knew what I got. With Switch it's a pure mess.
No, this cart doesn't contain English, only Japanese.
No, this cart doesn't contain English, only Japanese, but there's a patch.
Yes, this cart contains English and Japanese.
No, this cart isn't up-to-date, you need the Japanese Zero rated cart to get the game with all updates on cart
No, this cart doesn't include Japanese, only English.

In the end region free doesn't help anyone, what people are actually looking for is localization. And Wii U had that for almost all games. With Switch there are even games that are available in English, EFGIS and Japanese, but then still some regions only get some languages, not all.

[heyadol]

I'd rather have region free hardware and let the publisher decide if the game is region locked on a case by case basis.

I don't recall reading anything from Nintendo (they probably don't care), but Sony (since PS3) and Microsoft (since Xbox One) have left region restrictions up to the publisher. I don't think many have actually done this though...the closest would be choosing not to sell in regions publishers feel the material is too sensitive, such as DoAX3 retail limited to Asia, or Injustice 2/MK11 not being available in Japan. But if you acquire the games you can still play them on hardware worldwide.

Also, I like the way Microsoft handles this for digital content. Games and DLC can be added to your account regardless of the source region. With Sony and Nintendo, you need a corresponding regional account.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by jimidini

If you can import games for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can also import a console - easily.
That's what I did.
Wii U is a very import friendly console, just replace the power adapter with an American/European one and it will work. Simple as that.
Controllers also work, even the Wii U gamepad is cross-region, except regarding updates. Controllers were dirt cheap in Japan, and kinda still are compared to the insane prices in western countries.

"Region free" is a useless gimmick.
I would prefer a region locked Switch, if that would mean uncensored games in Japan.

Back then I bought the Japanese Wii U Xenoblade X bundle (black 32 GB Wii U), beautiful box for only around 19.000 Yen.
I have spent more than that this month on Japanese Switch game imports.

And with Wii U, I always knew what I got. With Switch it's a pure mess.
No, this cart doesn't contain English, only Japanese.
No, this cart doesn't contain English, only Japanese, but there's a patch.
Yes, this cart contains English and Japanese.
No, this cart isn't up-to-date, you need the Japanese Zero rated cart to get the game with all updates on cart
No, this cart doesn't include Japanese, only English.

In the end region free doesn't help anyone, what people are actually looking for is localization. And Wii U had that for almost all games. With Switch there are even games that are available in English, EFGIS and Japanese, but then still some regions only get some languages, not all.

I hear you on now knowing what you get with Switch carts. Not knowing what region physical game I'm getting is the main reason I never buy any games from Amazon anymore. Well, that and they put their stuff in bubble mailers that always get damaged.

For Wii U, let's face it, there was VERY little of note that was released physically in Japan or PAL, but not North America to really justify making any effort to play anything on a different region console. Essentially just Dragon Quest X and Romance of the Three Kingdoms for Japan, but neither had an English option anyway. I did play Fatal Frame as a downloadable on Wii U. Can't recall there being anything else interesting that came out in PAL region, but not North America except for Shmup Collection, which was limited print and goes for like $150.

[jimidini]

Okay, previews are coming out.

What's about the censorship?

NOT ONLY DID THEY KEEP THE *WESTERN-ONLY* CENSORSHIP (which was a given), BUT THEY EVEN EXPANDED IT FURTHER.

EVERY CHARACTER seems to get the censored Lyn outfits now, which is just ridiculous. They are now censoring official adults wearing bikinis.
Bunny outfits are gone, skimpy bikinis are gone and more

**** this

It's just baffling, they have done some QoL features and also additional content, but I'm not funding any censorship, especially not ridiculous censorship like this. This is on Sony level, which also censored an adult woman in the latest Devil May Cry, BUT AT LEAST IT WASN'T CENSORED IN JAPAN and that was a nude butt. This here is fricking bikinis.
I doubt Nintendo will do an uncensored release in Japan.

Thank God I own 2 Wii Us.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

but not North America except for Shmup Collection, which was limited print and goes for like $150.

There was that Shmup collection, which was sold here for 10 or 20 bucks, I think I bought a few of these, sealed. There also was that physical Steamworld Collection, which was as far as I know also Europe exclusive. I had a feeling that these prices would go sky high.
There was also another release of FAST Racing Neo, also Europe exclusive, which was also available dirt cheap for a while.

There also was that physical *censored* Project zero 5 release, but at least the physical release itself was awesome and had quite a few physical items included, and at the very least there were 2 bonus outfits included, which were and still are European Wii U *exclusive*.

In Japan there were a few other physical releases, which were exclusive to Japan, but also some Indie games too, including a mobile game port to the Wii U, which for some reason was also Japan exclusive.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by jimidini

Okay, previews are coming out.

What's about the censorship?

NOT ONLY DID THEY KEEP THE *WESTERN-ONLY* CENSORSHIP (which was a given), BUT THEY EVEN EXPANDED IT FURTHER.

EVERY CHARACTER seems to get the censored Lyn outfits now, which is just ridiculous. They are now censoring official adults wearing bikinis.
Bunny outfits are gone, skimpy bikinis are gone and more

**** this

It's just baffling, they have done some QoL features and also additional content, but I'm not funding any censorship, especially not ridiculous censorship like this. This is on Sony level, which also censored an adult woman in the latest Devil May Cry, BUT AT LEAST IT WASN'T CENSORED IN JAPAN and that was a nude butt. This here is fricking bikinis.
I doubt Nintendo will do an uncensored release in Japan.

Thank God I own 2 Wii Us.

I had a feeling there would be a lot of that nonsense. Hell, Nintendo pulled a lot of crap with Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door.

[Hatter]

Censorship makes it easier to wait for a sale. I expected the NA release to be censored, but for the Japanese one to be censored too now is just dumb.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Censorship makes it easier to wait for a sale. I expected the NA release to be censored, but for the Japanese one to be censored too now is just dumb.

Does Nintendo not realize huge numbers of games like this are being released on their own console?

[Show spoiler]

[Diesel]

Getting incredibly angry over not being able to see a few extra pixels of digital skin sure is a choice.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Getting incredibly angry over not being able to see a few extra pixels of digital skin sure is a choice.

Makes me think back to the ridiculous controversy over the new version of Dragon Quest III. The actual sprite for the female warrior doesn’t look cleaned up, it looks like she just has leg bands on and the rest is still skin. In any case, anyone bothered by it could just put their female characters in the bikini armor and, voila, there’s all the skin you need!

I mean, yeah, it’s dumb to do this stuff to begin with but the reactions seem way over the top.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Getting incredibly angry over not being able to see a few extra pixels of digital skin sure is a choice.

If it was so minor, why censor it in the first place? This is every bit on par with when people complain about any changes made to movies no matter how small. Why should games be treated any differently?

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Hatter

If it was so minor, why censor it in the first place? This is every bit on par with when people complain about any changes made to movies no matter how small. Why should games be treated any differently?

I’m not defending them doing it, just saying such a minor change isn’t something I’d get angry over.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I’m not defending them doing it, just saying such a minor change isn’t something I’d get angry over.

Not really angry, just annoyed. Nintendo making a mountain out of a mole hill. We're well past peak wokeness and what them doing this nonsense isn't going to win them any DEI points. Especially comical with borderline porn being released on their console by third parties.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by jimidini

Okay, previews are coming out.

What's about the censorship?

NOT ONLY DID THEY KEEP THE *WESTERN-ONLY* CENSORSHIP (which was a given), BUT THEY EVEN EXPANDED IT FURTHER.

EVERY CHARACTER seems to get the censored Lyn outfits now, which is just ridiculous. They are now censoring official adults wearing bikinis.
Bunny outfits are gone, skimpy bikinis are gone and more

**** this

It's just baffling, they have done some QoL features and also additional content, but I'm not funding any censorship, especially not ridiculous censorship like this. This is on Sony level, which also censored an adult woman in the latest Devil May Cry, BUT AT LEAST IT WASN'T CENSORED IN JAPAN and that was a nude butt. This here is fricking bikinis.
I doubt Nintendo will do an uncensored release in Japan.

Thank God I own 2 Wii Us.

Which in hindsight seems rather silly after playing Stellar Blade LOL!

The way I see it, unless it's something that fundamentally changes the game's story or how it plays, its not worth getting worked up over. So in an effort to try and make the game accessible to more people, they change it to where you can't perv over some extra nude pixels. There are far worse things to get this upset over, LOL.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Which in hindsight seems rather silly after playing Stellar Blade LOL!

The way I see it, unless it's something that fundamentally changes the game's story or how it plays, its not worth getting worked up over. So in an effort to try and make the game accessible to more people, they change it to where you can't perv over some extra nude pixels. There are far worse things to get this upset over, LOL.

I hear ya on that. I actually hated the Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door changes a lot more than these Xenoblade Chronicles X changes, because the Thousand Year Door did heavily change the game's dialogue. Some of it I was OK with, such as some terms being changed because it is a 20 year old game and some phrases are outdated, with younger gamers possibly not understanding them. But a lot of the dialogue changes were pure wokeness, on a level maybe like .0001% of people who play the game would even be moderately offended by. Not saying the changes effected my decision to buy either Thousand Year Door or Xenoblade X, but it is annoying.

[Diesel]

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition has a hidden 60 FPS mode, which suggests the recent game may have been future-proofed ahead of the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

As confirmed by known modder MasaGrator, this 60 FPS mode is hidden in the game's executable but doesn't function properly, as enabling it causes some unspecified issues. While this mode could be some development leftover, it would definitely make more sense if its faulty implementation could be the basis upon which a Nintendo Switch 2 patch for the game could be built to allow the game to take advantage of the console's additional power and deliver a 60 FPS experience.

https://wccftech.com/xenoblade-chron...n-60-fps-mode/

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by Diesel

https://wccftech.com/xenoblade-chron...n-60-fps-mode/

I was planning on waiting til the Switch 2 to play this and a couple other games I haven't had time for, for this exact reason!