Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Impressions – Upgrade Comparisons & More
Nintendo just announced and released a Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. As I did with Xenoblade Chronicles X, I've tested Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition before and after upgrading to compare the visuals, performance, and load times between Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition vs Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Note that I'm focusing on the visuals and performance here. I will cover the gameplay additions in a separate feature.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition vs Switch 1 visuals and resolution
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition's Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack is a hefty download compared to Nintendo's usual upgrades. If you own the base game, just the upgrade is nearly 20GB. I was worried the visuals would be like Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition, and initially I was relieved, but I soon discovered that it has similar issues, though they aren't as pronounced as far as I'm concerned.
Note: The images above are captured at 4K using a capture card while playing Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition docked.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition uses similar upscaling (going by the issues I see), but the end result is not as severe in its post-processing. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition also has other upgrades over Switch 1 with some additional foliage, but using the new Ether Jet and moving quickly makes it evident that the upscaling cannot keep up.
When playing docked, I would still play Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition over the Switch 1 version. Handheld I'm a bit more mixed on, but I think they opted for a softer image with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition versus what we had in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition. Since the latter has not been fixed, I don't expect much here, but my thoughts on the visual upgrade in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition is better than X, but still mixed.
Note: The images above use Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Switch 1 played via backward compatibility on Switch 2. The comparison images above use cropped portions of 4K capture to show the differences and go over upgrades in foliage, textures, and more.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition performance impressions
While I was more positive on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 than X when it comes to visuals, performance is sadly not great. This is still a lot better than the 30fps target on Switch 1, but the upgrade is inconsistent because of its v-sync implementation or how it handles drops below 60fps. Some menus also appear to animate at a lower frame rate with even dialogue boxes looking a bit choppy when they load in compared to the rest of the gameplay, but the performance is not perfect thanks to the v-sync implementation as far as I can tell. This affects both docked or handheld. In fact, some areas like Eryth Sea and Frontier Village drop frames just moving the camera and the v-sync implementation causes it to feel like a noticeable jerk rather than just dipping below 60fps to the high 50s.
It just doesn't feel good when you have the frame rate cap vary that much where it goes from 60 to 30 and back up. That's how it feels right now. I also noticed combat can have more drops even early on compared to exploration. I think I would have preferred a fluctuating frame rate that is cleaned up with VRR handheld rather than the whiplash effect with the v-sync here that causes even 360 degree camera movement in some locations to feel bad.
Note: The images above were captured using the Switch 2's screenshot capture functionality since there is no other way to get handheld capture right now.
I know the Switch 2 doesn't have VRR docked, but this is definitely a release that should've offered Quality and Performance modes with stable performance instead of what we have now. This isn't terrible and is not even close to the worst Switch 2 upgrades, but I expected better given it is a paid upgrade.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition vs Switch 1 load times compared
To compare load times, I had my old data from Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition's Switch 1 version tested on Switch 1 and on Switch 2. I included those results with my new tests for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Switch 1 (patched) on Switch 2 in addition to new results for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. All Switch 2 tests were done with the game in question (Switch 1 or Switch 2 Edition) installed to the internal storage. The Switch 1 version on Switch 1 was installed to the SD card. The results below are in seconds.
| Test | S1 | S1 on S2* | S1 on S2 | S2 |
| Dashboard to title | 30 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Loading save | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6-7 |
| Loading Event cut-scene | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Makna to Valak travel | 7 | 6 | 6-7 | 6 |
| Loading Extra Story | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| Loading Extra Story save | 15 | 12 | 12 | 9-10 |
I tested fast travel, loading a cut-scene in the Event Theatre, loading a save file for base game and Extra Story, and even swapping from the base game to Extra Story title screen. As you can see, the load times are mostly the same, but the Switch 2 native release does load a bit faster for some situations. Overall, the game never took too long to load in the first place barring the initial load to title screen.
Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is still a mixed bag, but I'm more positive on it than X. It isn't as bad as Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was handheld, but this is definitely an upgrade you are buying for the new content and 60fps target than a huge visual improvement as far as I'm concerned. I would've liked to see a native image at 30fps in a potential Quality mode and more optimization for 60fps in a potential Performance mode rather than what we have right now. Even camera movement in some locations feels bad with hitching.
I will update this if Nintendo patches the game, but for now I would only recommend upgrading or buying Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition if you are ok with the upscaling issues and performance issues in some locations while exploring and during combat.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is now available on Switch. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is now available on Switch 2.