Every fact on this page applies to update 1.1.2, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition runs
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition plays on the Mac through its opening. Tested through the opening movies and events, the Sword Valley battle through its boss, targeting, movement and Monado Arts, and Shulk and Reyn's first fight in Colony 9, with sound. The iPhone app is about 13.2 GB and has not been tested on a device.
How it runs
Frames in the opening battle take about 33 ms, in line with 30 fps. Two problems found here have been fixed for every game: memory used to grow fast in the first battle as old textures were never released, and the scenery went dark during an early Colony 9 conversation. With both fixed, memory settled at about 2.2 GB.
Bring update 1.1.2
Tested with update 1.1.2. Put it in the same folder as the base game before you Pack.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 3D touch layout, with the camera on an undrawn right stick in the right third of the screen. Plus, then A, skips an opening event; each event needs its own skip. In battle, R picks a target and the directional buttons choose arts.
Good to know
- At about 13.2 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. - Further story progress and saving and loading have not been checked.
Known issues
- It has not yet been played on iPhone.
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-definitive-edition -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition work with nxnative?
Yes. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is tested with nxnative on update 1.1.2.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition?
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: Definitive Edition included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition?
Online play in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
