Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases on Thursday, December 3, 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Both digital and physical versions arrive that day, alongside a $9.99 upgrade pack for owners of the original Nintendo Switch release.
Shown in your local time · counts down to Thursday, December 3, 2026 (time not yet official)
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Release date: Thursday, December 3, 2026 · Nintendo Switch 2 · $69.99
- Release date
- Thursday, December 3, 2026
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Price
- $69.99
- Pre-order
- Pre-orders open
- Last verified
- July 7, 2026
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is Monolith Soft's expansive action-RPG and the third mainline chapter in the series, set in the war-torn world of Aionios. Soldiers from the rival nations of Keves and Agnus are born only to fight, living out lifespans measured in ten short terms, until a party of six from both sides sets out to break that cycle. It pairs real-time party combat and deep character customization with a lengthy story and vast, explorable regions.
This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition arrives on December 3, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, in both digital and physical form. It runs at up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second in TV mode and full HD in handheld, with sharper cutscenes, and adds new content: a new Hero with an accompanying Hero Quest, fully voiced event scenes, and a new wave-based defensive battle mode. Players who already own the original Switch game can pick up a $9.99 upgrade pack rather than the $69.99 full edition.
For longtime fans, this is the chance to replay one of the Switch era's most ambitious RPGs at the performance level the original hardware could not reach. The added Hero, newly voiced scenes, and extra battle mode give returning players fresh reasons to head back to Aionios, while newcomers can experience the whole adventure at its best. It also completes Nintendo's 2026 rollout of Switch 2 Editions for the entire mainline Xenoblade trilogy.
Global unlock times
When the countdown hits zero, here is the local time in cities around the world.
| City | Local unlock time |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles UTC-8 | 4:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| New York UTC-5 | 7:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| São Paulo UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| London UTC+0 | 12:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Berlin UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Paris UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Istanbul UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Riyadh UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Dubai UTC+4 | 4:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Cairo UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Mumbai UTC+5:30 | 5:30 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Bangkok UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Jakarta UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Hanoi UTC+7 | 7:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Manila UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Kuala Lumpur UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Singapore UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Tokyo UTC+9 | 9:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Seoul UTC+9 | 9:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Shanghai UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Taipei UTC+8 | 8:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Karachi UTC+5 | 5:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Dhaka UTC+6 | 6:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Mexico City UTC-6 | 6:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Bogotá UTC-5 | 7:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Buenos Aires UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Santiago UTC-3 | 9:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Chicago UTC-6 | 6:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Toronto UTC-5 | 7:00 PM · Wed, Dec 2 * |
| Madrid UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Rome UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Moscow UTC+3 | 3:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Warsaw UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Lagos UTC+1 | 1:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Johannesburg UTC+2 | 2:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Sydney UTC+11 | 11:00 AM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
| Auckland UTC+13 | 1:00 PM · Thu, Dec 3 * |
*
Frequently asked questions
When does Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition release?
Which platforms is it available on?
How much does it cost, and what editions are there?
Are pre-orders open?
Is it coming to Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus?
What's new in the Switch 2 Edition compared with the original?
Sources
- Nintendo Official Store – Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Gematsu – Xenoblade Chronicles series Nintendo Switch 2 Editions announced
- Nintendo Life – Xenoblade Chronicles 1, 2, And 3 Are All Getting Nintendo Switch 2 Editions
- GoNintendo – Xenoblade Chronicles 1-3 getting Switch 2 Editions in 2026