Xenoblade Chronicles 3 release date now set for July, new trailer, Special Edition revealed

The release date for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has been moved up, with the game now set to launch on July 29. We previously had a September window from Nintendo.

According to today’s announcement, “life” is the central theme of Xenoblade Chronicles 3. In the game, players will step into the roles of protagonists Noah and Mio amid turmoil between the nations of Keves and Agnus. Six characters from those nations will come together to learn the truth behind their conflict, and set their sights for Swordsmarch, a land pierced by a giant sword.

New details about the battle system have also been revealed – we have the full rundown below.

Battle with up to seven characters: Like in previous Xenoblade Chronicles games, battles start by facing enemies directly in the overworld. Players can control Noah’s party of six, as well as additional characters they’ll meet during the adventure. Each character has their own role in battle, which allows for diverse strategies.

Class change: Noah is a Swordfighter, specializing in close-range attacks, while Mio is a Zephyr, drawing enemy attention while evading their strikes. Thus, each character has their own class with their own strengths. Progressing in the adventure, players can change characters’ classes, creating a customized party.

New Interlink system: Each of the tag-team pairs – Noah and Mio, Lanz and Sena, Eunie and Taion – can make use of the Interlink system if certain conditions are met. They will then combine into a giant form called Ouroboros. Each Ouroboros has its own powerful move set, and deciding when to transform can be the key to winning a battle.

Along with the release date news, Nintendo also debuted a new trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 today that shows the background of the group’s journey in Aionios, a vast and sublime natural world. A first look at the battle system is shown as well. View the video below.

As shown at the very end of the trailer, the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Special Edition is on the way. This will be sold exclusively at the My Nintendo Store in North America. Copies include package artwork from Masatsugu Saito, a full-color 250-page+ hardcover art book, and a steel case.