Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Collector’s Edition

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Collector’s Edition
Platform: Switch
Year: 2022
Region: PAL

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 released on Nintendo Switch in July of 2022. As with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017) and a remake of the first game, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition (2020), a collector’s edition was available as well. Only this time, Nintendo decided it would be a good idea to sell it exclusively through their online store. The whole process was a mess. First, the game’s release date was pushed up from September to July, but the collector’s edition was not going to be there at launch. That is, the contents of the collector’s edition without the game included. The idea was that fans had the option to buy the game at launch and then get the rest of the package later via the Nintendo Store. However, pre-orders were delayed several times, only to open in October. Then, the website was down for an entire day as fans were desperately trying to get their order in. At the end, there were only two very shorts windows in which it was actually possible to place an order, before stock had run out. Predictably, listings started to pop up on eBay shortly after. With many fans left disappointed, one can only hope that Nintendo does a better job next time, if they continue to insist being the only seller.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the actual contents. It’s quite similar to the previous Xenoblade collector’s editions on Switch: a large paper box, containing an A4-sized artbook and a steelbook. Next to the steelbook is an empty spot for the gamecase, which as mentioned earlier is not included.

First we have the box itself. On the front there’s an artwork of the game’s main cast, and the logo.

There’s a beautiful large artwork on the back as well.

Upon removing the lid you’ll find the included steelbook, with next to it the empty space for the game itself (the game in the picture was bought separately).

Directly below the compartment for the steelbook is the soft cover artbook. It contains character designs, locations, enemies, weapons and items, and at the end you can find some of the game’s storyboards.

Overall, this is a good collector’s edition that will fit nicely with the other Xenoblade Chronicles sets. It’s just a shame Nintendo had to make such a mess of the ordering process, and having to buy the game separately also makes it relatively expensive for what you get. Still, for fans of the series it’s an attractive package.