Xenoblade Chronicles 3: DLC release date, trailers, gameplay, & everything we know

Andrew Amos

We’ve got all the information on Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and its upcoming DLC expansions right here including a release date, trailer, and gameplay.

After 2020’s remake of the original Xenoblade Chronicles game, fans of the Xeno franchise can dive right back in with Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Revealed in February 2022’s Nintendo Direct, developers Monolith Soft have promised “a brand-new story that ties together the futures of the worlds depicted in Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.”

Here’s everything we know about the third installment, along with its upcoming DLC, including release dates, gameplay trailer, and platforms. We’ll also cover how the next chapter in the series will connect to the previous two entries.


Contents


Xenoblade Chronicles 3 main characters preparing for fight
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 follows on from both prior games.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 & DLC release dates

Nintendo confirmed that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 wouldrelease on July 29, 2022. This was a whole month earlier than originally expected which was great news for fans of the series.

Furthermore, as announced during a February 8 Nintendo Direct, we know for certain Challenge Battle Mode will launch on February 15, 2023. After that, fans can expect the Wave 4 DLC later in 2023.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Story & gameplay

A direct sequel to both of its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 brings players to Aionios, a world of war between the technological Keves and the magic-wielding Agnus.

Protagonists include Noah, a Keves soldier, who battles enemies in real-time combat alongside five other party members. These characters can be customized with new classes, but also combine in pairs to form Ouroboros, unlocking new moves.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 combat screenshot
Combat occurs in the overworld, as with prior games.

Trailers

You can see 20 minutes of gameplay footage here:

Check out the announcement below:

A two-minute trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 dropped on February 9 as part of the first Nintendo Direct of 2022. If you missed it, you can rewatch the trailer above.

In the trailer, Nintendo showcased the characters, some of which look quite similar to two fan favorites from previous entries, Nia and Melia. It also gives a little inkling of the story, continuing that war-torn beat but with a twist.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 exploration on beach
Players can expect a huge range of locales.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC Expansion Pass

During the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 direct presentation on June 22, 2022, Nintendo announced a DLC expansion pack that will include four waves of extra content that won’t be available to purchase individually.

The pass is priced at $29.99 / £26.99, and the first wave of DLC was released alongside the base game on July 29, 2022, featuring some outfit color variant cosmetics, as well as a handful of helpful in-game items.

The second wave of DLC released on October 13, 2022, and featured a brand new hero character, Ino, who is a mechanical warrior. Players will be able to add Ino to their party after completing her hero quest.

Challenge battles are also locked in for a February 15 release and will feature consecutive waves of powerful enemies to defeat, which will be rewarded with valuable accessories and special outfits.

Beyond that, a new story scenario has been revealed for Volume 4 but no exact release date has been confirmed just yet.


So, that’s everything we know about Xenoblade Chronicles 3. For more information on upcoming games, check out some of our below guides:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2Assassin’s Creed Infinity | Hollow Knight Silksong