Potential Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Remaster: Key Features Fans Want on Nintendo Switch 2

With the Nintendo Switch entering its twilight years and the gaming community looking ahead to the rumored Nintendo Switch 2, discussion around potential remasters continues to gain traction.

One game at the center of this conversation is Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the critically acclaimed JRPG developed by Monolith Soft.

Released in December 2017 on the Nintendo Switch, the game garnered praise for its expansive world, emotive story, and compelling combat, quickly becoming one of the most significant entries in the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise.

As Monolith Soft has a track record of revisiting its iconic titles with substantial upgrades, fans and industry watchers are keen to explore what a Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Definitive Edition could entail on next-generation Nintendo hardware. Monolith Soft previously delivered a highly regarded Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for the Switch in 2020, updating the original 2010 Wii title with improved graphics, streamlined systems, and added content.

If Xenoblade Chronicles 2 were to follow a similar remastering schedule, a release on Nintendo Switch 2 might not be as far-fetched as it seems.

However, with no official announcement from Nintendo or Monolith Soft and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launching earlier this year, industry expectations point to a potential Xenoblade Chronicles 4 appearing before any remaster of the 2017 title becomes a reality.

As it stands, none of the Xenoblade Chronicles games have announced upgrade packs or performance boosts specifically for Switch 2. Performance and Visual Upgrades: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 remains a technical outlier in the series, particularly regarding resolution and performance in handheld mode.

The game runs at a stable 30 frames per second but can dip to sub-360p resolutions, resulting in a noticeably blurry image when undocked.

A remaster would almost certainly address these issues by boosting resolution, refining environmental details, and potentially implementing enhanced character animations introduced in Xenoblade Chronicles 3—such as dynamic eye movement for realistic expressions. Gameplay and Quality-of-Life Improvements: One of the most debated gameplay systems in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is its random Rare Blade acquisition.

Players receive Core Crystals as drops and must rely on chance to unlock unique Blades, some of which are notoriously elusive.

While this RNG element contributes to the game’s distinct identity, many believe that introducing new, guaranteed ways to obtain Rare Blades—perhaps through quest rewards—would strike a better balance between challenge and satisfaction. Menus and User Interface: The game’s user interface has often been cited as cluttered and unintuitive.

In a previous interview, Monolith Soft’s president, Tetsuya Takahashi, explained that staff changes during development led to less experienced programmers handling the final UI design.

This issue was rectified in later entries, prompting hope that a Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Definitive Edition would overhaul the menu system for smoother navigation, particularly in managing party members and Merc Missions. Exploration Enhancements and Field Skills: Navigation within Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s expansive environments can at times be confusing, with unclear quest markers leading to player frustration.

Borrowing quality-of-life features from previous games, like an optional navigation aid similar to the 'Follow Ball' from Xenoblade Chronicles X, would significantly improve player experience.

Critics have also pointed to the Field Skills system as a hurdle, requiring players to constantly reorganize their team to bypass world barriers.

Allowing all Blades to contribute to skill checks—rather than limiting by active party—would streamline progression. Content Additions and Story Integration: Fans of the series also hope for expanded story content, potentially bridging the gap between Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and its sequel.

Including the standalone prequel Torna: The Golden Country would offer comprehensive value, while new postgame stories could deepen the lore connecting the worlds of Bionis, Alrest, Keves, and Agnus.

Questions such as Nia’s ascension to queen or the origins of pivotal relics remain areas ripe for exploration. Localization and Voice Acting: Though a recasting of voice actors is unlikely based on Monolith Soft's history, improved direction and enhanced lip-syncing with the English localization would polish the game's narrative delivery, building upon the refinements seen in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. While a Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Definitive Edition or remaster has yet to be confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 or otherwise, these targeted improvements represent both fan expectation and logical evolution for the JRPG giant.

As interest continues to surge, the legacy of Monolith Soft’s masterwork only grows, and the prospect of an updated return to Alrest becomes an enticing possibility for the future of the eShop and beyond.

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