Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (NSW) | Switch 2 Version - December 3, 2026

[Demosthenes]

Beat the game last night. I'm impressed that they managed to maintain more steady framerates this time around, but the graphical cutbacks are prominent 2d models in the distance, character models, terrain pop-in (grass, tree and monster pop-in has always been a thing, but the terrain one is new). I think six (seven) characters is too much. The side-effect of having so many characters is that systems overall are more simplified than I would have liked. I miss elemental strengths and weaknesses and was hoping that would continue on from X and 2. I miss QTE (but I can see why some people would not) and I really dislike the new chain attack. This game put me to sleep and I was bored playing it a lot. I don't think it's a bad game, but it's definitely the least fun I've had playing a Xenoblade game.
I never had trouble with healing, and playing on hard past the first 2 boss fights is piss easy. It wouldn't be a xenoblade game if you couldn't find ways to make it busted, but I'm shocked at how easily I broke the game apart (I blame that on its simplified systems). Music is ok, gameplay is just a tiny bit below ok. I prefer the characters and their designs a million times more than 2's. Had to stop using a signifer in my party because they basically ultra trivialized everything and I'm sure blue mage is going to be even worse with the right setup. Going to go spend my bonus xp and see how far from level 67 it takes me. I'm not sure I should bother with post-game if it's going to be this much of a cakewalk, but we'll see how I feel later.

This stupid track will be stuck in my head forever because of how much time I spent in chain attacks.

[Ratatapa]

So I’m in chapter 6 and before juniper ascension quest I have to do a quest called thirkin something with an npc Rowland in colony tau

But he’s nowhere to ve found

I have juniper in my PT and main char is lv 10

Am I just not far in the story ?

[AoE]

Some quests won't activate until you've done other quests so if you can't find him it's possible you haven't unlocked the pre-requisites.

[Ratatapa]

Some quests won't activate until you've done other quests so if you can't find him it's possible you haven't unlocked the pre-requisites.

Possible but I can’t find any ? Or ! Sign

[Tyrath]

Rowland only appears in the evenings

[Gokulo]

Got an email that pre orders for the European CR will open "very soon"

[Tomiko]

Got my CE items yesterday. So anyone who hasn't got a shipping notice yet should get one soon.

[Corrderio]

Looks like mine is due to be delivered this Wednesday. Assuming the USPS doesn't lose it for another 3 days again.

[Gokulo]

Meanwhile EU got another update that due to "unforeseen issues" pre-orders for CR will open in the first half of October

[Ratatapa]

Finally finished the game

I know I hate everything but I didn’t like the cast, the story got better then expected but still not on par of XC1/2 for me

But the gameplay is the best in all 3 games

Also a little lol at the end

Spoiler: show

i didn’t do Ethel ascension quest but at the last cutscene she’s full grown up

[Gokulo]

They finally put the CE up for EU stores and of course the sites couldn't handle it :/ The site crashed for me after filling all the info and clicking Buy Now, but it doesn't seem like the payment went through and now I can't even get on the site anymore ;(

[Mayareira]

They finally put the CE up for EU stores and of course the sites couldn't handle it :/ The site crashed for me after filling all the info and clicking Buy Now, but it doesn't seem like the payment went through and now I can't even get on the site anymore ;(

Were you able to order it? Site is back up but link is 404’ing.

[Gokulo]

Nope... While the UK site was showing it as sold out, somehow the DE site allowed me to make an order last night, but I guess it was a bug because I never received any email confirmation and this morning the order was gone from my account. Nintendo frigging sucks for all of this.

The link is 404'd probably because they completely removed the listing of CE from the website

[Mayareira]

What a fail.

[Gokulo]

Even better, I just noticed on my account that the payment for it went through... I guess I should contact them to ask wtf but I can't really speak German, lol

[Koyangi]

Damn, son. I'd get on that, that's straight theft. Can do a chargeback via your bank I'd assume.

[Mayareira]

Just contact .co.uk (tell them you wanted to have it shipped/gifted to a relative elsewhere) and demand your CE claiming that the payment went through. They’ll probably reserve you one.

I wasn’t even lucky enough to have the opportunity to offer them my money lol. Was such a mess, they took down the whole f*ing site 5 mins after preorder mails.

[Gokulo]

I found the order confirmation email in my spam with my order number, I contacted them with it and this was their response:

Your order appears on our system. Once the issues are fixed and everything is processed correctly it will appear on your account.

So yay for me I guess. Still an overall shitty experience

[Koyangi]

I'm glad it all sorted itself out then.

[Gokulo]

Thanks! Seems page is fixed now too as I can see my order there.

Checked out DLC quickly before work today. No idea if I missed it being mentioned anywhere, but unlocking challenge battles also gives you fricking party templates, which is a feature I reaaally wanted while playing the game, so it's pretty cool they added that.