Today, between the COVID-19 pandemic and the community-wide rejection of “crunch culture,” it is not uncommon to hear about video games getting delayed. Many titles, from AAA to indie, have had their release dates pushed back – sometimes even multiple times. However, the opposite almost never happens….well, until now.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was announced in February 2022 during a Nintendo Direct presentation. It appeared at the end of the presentation, as Nintendo’s now-famous “just one more thing” final announcement. The initial trailer, which revealed that 3 would connect to both previous Xenoblade Chronicles titles, concluded with an announcement that the game would be released in September 2022 for the Nintendo Switch. The game takes place on the world of Aionios, and centers around a conflict between two nations, one which uses primarily mechanical technology and the other which relies on ether.
Step into the vast world of Aionios in #XenobladeChronicles3 sooner than expected, now coming to #NintendoSwitch on 7/29!
Check out the latest trailer to learn more about the game’s story, characters, and strategic battle system, where you can team up with up to 7 characters! pic.twitter.com/u1SuQaOwpk
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 19, 2022
However, on April 19, developer Nintendo surprised fans by announcing that Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s release date had been moved up a full three months. Now, the game will be releasing on July 29, 2022. Accompanying this announcement was a new trailer revealing more about the game’s story as well as its strategic battle system, in which players will be able to team up with up to seven characters in combat.
The reason for this change in release date has not officially been confirmed. However, some fans speculate that it may be a result of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, another major Nintendo release initially scheduled for 2022, being delayed to 2023. Others wonder if this announcement might connect to an upcoming delay in the release date for Splatoon 3, which is currently scheduled to release in summer 2022, and was Nintendo’s biggest-name release during the summer season.
What do you think of Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s new release date? Do you think any other titles, such as Splatoon 3, will be delayed in response? Comment below and let us know!
