Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Every fact on this page applies to update 2.2.1, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Xenoblade Chronicles 3 runs
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 plays on the Mac through its opening. A test run started a new game, watched the opening movies, beat the first enemy, went through the destination and tips tutorials and walked across Everblight Plain to the edge of the battle area, with sound, for over ten minutes. When the project developers last published sizes, its iPhone app came to about 19.2 GB. It has not been installed on a device.
How it runs
This game expects an enormous amount of address space on the Switch, far beyond what an iPhone app can have. nxnative reworks its memory layout to fit, and several drawing problems were fixed along the way, including exploding character models and missing terrain. The project developers point out that the reworked layout has only been proven for the opening; memory peaks later in the game are still unknown.
Bring update 2.2.1
Tested with update 2.2.1 and four add-on content packs. Put them in the same folder as the base game before you Pack.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 3D touch layout, with both sticks and the D-pad. Touch an empty spot in the right third of the screen for the camera stick. During a movie, the plus button followed by holding X skips it.
Good to know
- At about 19.2 GB, the Packed app may be too big for some sideloading setups. nxnative's packing script can keep the game files out of the app with
--romfs separate. - Saves, later areas and add-on content have not been checked.
Known issues
- It has not yet been played on iPhone.
- Add-on content is packed in, but its extra graphics have not been checked.
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/xenoblade-chronicles-3 -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Xenoblade Chronicles 3 work with nxnative?
Yes. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is tested with nxnative on update 2.2.1.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Xenoblade Chronicles 3 included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Xenoblade Chronicles 3 from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Xenoblade Chronicles 3?
Online play in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
