Bubbly Basin now has a date. Nintendo confirmed during last month’s Nintendo Direct that Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1 — Bubbly Basin — launches on 5 August 2026. A seven-minute trailer released this week fills in everything fans were waiting for: the full Pokémon roster, a brand-new field move, and an extended look at the underwater world beneath Pokopia’s surface.
The trailer confirms 14 returning Pokémon making their Pokopia debut in Bubbly Basin — an appropriately aquatic lineup anchored by mythical and Water-type fan favourites:
Manaphy, Popplio, Mudkip, Chinchou, Lanturn
Buizel, Corphish, Totodile, Dhelmise
Golisopod, Corsola, Frillish, Lumineon, Sharpedo
Sharpedo earns a starring role beyond its spot on the roster: the Brutal Pokémon doubles as a rideable submarine, letting you pilot it through underwater passages into a dedicated deep-sea chamber.
One of the bigger reveals is the new Dive field move, which lets your Pokémon plunge beneath the surface to explore Bubbly Basin’s underwater zones. Dive arrives as part of the free Version 2.0 update launching alongside the DLC — so all Pokopia players can access it, Expansion Pass or not.
Smoothies and the Sharpedo Sub Room
Bubbly Basin adds two new mechanics to the mix. Smoothies are a crafting and food system built around ingredients found throughout the aquatic biome. The Sharpedo Submarine Room is a deep-sea area exclusively accessible by riding Sharpedo through the underwater tunnel network — a new type of secret area for Pokopia.
Official Trailer
Expansion Pass: Three Parts, One Price
Bubbly Basin is Part 1 of a three-part Expansion Pass. Release windows and content details for Parts 2 and 3 have not yet been announced. The full Expansion Pass is priced at USD $34.99, with regional pricing available in local storefronts. As Pokopia launched simultaneously worldwide, Bubbly Basin is expected to go live in Singapore on the same date: 5 August 2026.
Nintendo has been drip-feeding new ally profiles for Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave at a steady clip this week, and four more characters are now confirmed ahead of the game’s global Nintendo Switch 2 launch on 17 September 2026. Here’s a quick rundown of who they are and how they fight.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Lilian Tabitha — The Saramis Archer Who Bills by the Job
Revealed on 28 July, Lilian is a young archer from the Kingdom of Saramis who entered the Heroic Games under Queen Theodora’s banner. Her motivations are bluntly mercenary — money comes first, and she makes no effort to hide it even when addressing her queen. As a Bow Fighter she provides reliable long-range damage and pairs well with mounted units pushing the front line. Japanese voice duties go to Shuka Saito, a name Singapore fans will recognise from Danmachi and A Couple of Cuckoos.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Lysander Kratos — The Cavalier Knight Built to Strike First
Announced on 27 July, Lysander is a Saraminian noble whose uncle is the kingdom’s chancellor and whose father is a celebrated warrior. As a Cavalier he excels at seizing initiative: his personal Acceleration skill triggers after each kill, stacking Speed bonuses that make him progressively harder to outrun across a long battle. He represents the dependable mounted-lance archetype the series is known for, voiced in Japan by Junichi Yanagita.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Michaela Augustus — The Veteran Mercenary with a Mum’s Mission
Michaela’s reveal on 24 July brings a more grounded backstory to the roster. A former mercenary, she came to Dagsion for one reason: to earn enough prize money to fund her only daughter’s education. Her personal skill, Strong Veteran, boosts accuracy when fighting at close range — a reflection of years of real combat rather than tournament pageantry. Japanese voice: Hiromi Hirata.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Ultand — Aurora Temple’s Healer Who Can Also Hit Back
The youngest of the four, Ultand is a priestess at Aurora Temple who doubles as the tournament’s official receptionist. Her mechanical hook is a genuine hybrid role: she can deal damage and heal allies in the same engagement, and she learns holy magic with extra effectiveness against underworld-type foes. She is voiced in Japan by Konomi Inagaki.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Counting Down to 17 September on Nintendo Switch 2
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching globally on 17 September 2026. As we covered last week when Sirocco was revealed, the game centres on a grand tournament arc in the arena city of Dagsion, with four separate protagonists whose stories branch and intersect. Nintendo has been rolling out one or two new character profiles daily through its Japanese social channels, with the full growing list tracked by Serenes Forest — and more reveals are expected before launch.
Singapore players can pick up Fortune’s Weave at major game retailers and electronics chains from 17 September. No local SGD pricing has been confirmed yet — check retailer listings as launch approaches.
Splatoon has always been Nintendo’s ink-splattered multiplayer playground — but Splatoon Raiders takes the series somewhere entirely new. Launching 23 July 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, this single-player-focused spin-off puts players at the helm of a mechanic sailing the mysterious Spirhalite Islands in search of treasure, alongside the fan-favourite trio Deep Cut.
What Splatoon Raiders Is — And Why It’s Different
This is not Splatoon 4. Raiders is a deliberate step sideways — a story-driven, single-player action shooter that draws inspiration from the beloved Salmon Run mode while building something much bigger around it. You create your own Inkling or Octoling character, take on the role of a mechanic hired by Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, and set out to plunder the Spirhalite Islands for loot. The gameplay blends ink-splattering combat against waves of Salmonid enemies with exploration, crafting at a Mechanic Shack aboard your hideout ship, and dungeon-style raids for increasingly rare treasure. Nintendo ran a dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct on 30 June 2026 going deep on all the systems — well worth a watch for anyone on the fence.
Splatoon Raiders — Release Date Revealed — Nintendo Switch 2 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Exploring the Spirhalite Islands With Deep Cut
The setting is a string of mysterious islands packed with Salmonid foes and buried loot. One Deep Cut member joins each raid as a powerful companion bot, providing firepower and personality as you push deeper into each island. An Exploration Bot travels with you too, detecting hidden treasure caches and flagging points of interest along the way. Between missions you return to your hideout ship — your base of operations — to upgrade gear, craft gadgets, and plan the next run. Three difficulty settings (Tourist, Raider, and Survivalist) let you calibrate the challenge, and rideable Stingray mounts appear in certain battles for a burst of extra chaos.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Character Creator and Gear Progression
Raiders introduces the most comprehensive character creator the Splatoon series has seen. Players choose between Inkling and Octoling, then customise their look and voice before heading out. Gear found and crafted during raids feeds directly into your loadout, giving meaningful progression between runs. The 30 June Nintendo Direct went deep on the customisation systems, showing how weapons, gadgets, and ship upgrades layer together as you advance through the islands. It’s a loop that should feel satisfying for Splatoon veterans while remaining approachable for newcomers.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Optional Co-op for Up to Four Players
Single-player is the core experience, but Splatoon Raiders supports co-op for up to four players via online or local wireless. Call in friends for a specific raid when you want extra firepower, then continue solo whenever you prefer. Difficulty scales to the number of players present, so the experience stays balanced whether you’re running it alone or in a full crew. It’s a flexible design that lets Raiders serve both solo players who prefer a focused adventure and groups who want to tackle the hardest raids together.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Release Date, Pricing and Pre-order Details
Splatoon Raiders launches 23 July 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. The digital price is US$49.99 and the physical edition is US$59.99 — SGD pricing via the Nintendo eShop Singapore and local retailers is to be confirmed, so keep an eye on the Nintendo Singapore site. Singapore eShop availability should align with the Japan launch at 1 PM JST on 23 July, which works out to around noon SGT. Pre-orders are already live on the Nintendo eShop, and three new amiibo — Shiver, Frye, and Big Man in Raiders-themed designs — launch the same day as the game. For more game news and Switch 2 coverage, we’ll have ongoing updates as the 23 July launch approaches.
Nintendo’s dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct aired this morning — it’s late Tuesday night in Singapore right now, 22:00 SGT — and at just 23 days out from the 23 July launch, the 15-minute presentation went deep on the systems, environments, and co-op mechanics that make this Switch 2 exclusive unlike anything the Splatoon series has attempted before. Here’s everything that was shown.
Splatoon Raiders Direct 6.30.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTubeImage courtesy of Nintendo
Splatoon’s First Proper Spin-Off
Splatoon Raiders is the franchise’s first full standalone spin-off — and the first entry to put single-player front and centre rather than bolting it on as an afterthought. You play as a fully customisable mechanic, either an Inkling or an Octoling, who washes up on the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Deep Cut, Splatoon 3’s beloved trio of Shiver, Frye, and Big Man. The goal: hunt treasure, battle Salmonids, and uncover whatever secrets the islands are hiding.
Each raid sees one member of Deep Cut ride along inside an Exploration Bot as your AI companion, contributing to combat. The story behind the crew’s partnership is being told through a chapter-a-day comic series exclusive to the Nintendo Today! app, running from 23 June all the way to launch day. If you haven’t been following those, they’re well worth catching up on before the game drops.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Raiding Across the Spirhalite Islands
The Dungeon Menu is your campaign map: a top-down archipelago of islands, each with multiple raid sites at varying difficulty tiers. Islands confirmed in screenshots include Tygoru, Erpp, and Lehlo — each visually distinct and housing different enemy compositions. You pick a site, load in, and push as deep as you can to retrieve treasure.
Crucially, the game supports co-op for up to four players, both locally and online. Difficulty scales with party size, so bringing three friends along turns a manageable dungeon into a proper group challenge. For Singapore players, that’s Switch 2 local wireless if your squad is in the same room, or online play for anyone spread across the island.
Splatoon Raiders – Gameplay Video – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | June 2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTubeImage courtesy of Nintendo
Combat, Gadgets, and the Crafting Loop
Combat keeps Splatoon’s ink-shooter identity but layers on a full RPG progression system — damage numbers, enemy health pools, and persistent loot. The core crafting loop runs on Spirhalite Shards (mined from ore nodes across each island) and Salmonid equipment dropped by defeated enemies, both of which feed into upgrading your Gadgets.
Gadgets are a new weapon class: deployable, upgradeable sub-weapons that you can slot two of at a time. Each Gadget accepts Gadget Parts dropped by specific enemy types, unlocking expanded range, power, or entirely new effects. Separately, Salmonid relics found during raids grant passive combat abilities that layer on top of your Gadgets — meaning build variety is a genuine part of the loop.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
The Upgrade Tank System
The Direct’s clearest reveal of the game’s progression depth was the Upgrade Tanks screen. Stats you can upgrade include HP, Weapon Damage, Gadget Damage, and Gadget Part Slots — the last of which determines how many parts you can attach to each Gadget. Screenshots show Part Slots moving from 14 to 16 with one upgrade, giving a sense of the granularity on offer. Upgrades cost Skill Points, and a “Limiter Release” system lets you break through upgrade ceilings by spending additional points.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Underground Dungeons and Cave Raids
One of the most striking pieces of footage was the underground dungeon content — cave environments that are visually and mechanically distinct from the overworld islands. The cave raid screenshots show denser Salmonid encounters in close-quarters, darker spaces, complete with different enemy types not seen in outdoor areas. These dungeons appear to serve as the high-difficulty endgame content for each island.
Accessories, Amiibo, and the Splatoon 3 Splatfest
Three pieces of related content launch on or around 23 July:
Deep Cut Joy-Con 2 — a blue-and-yellow controller set themed around Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, launching 23 July alongside the game.
Deep Cut amiibo — individual figures of all three members at US$24.99 each. Nintendo has not yet detailed their in-game functionality.
Splatoon 3 Splatfest — a Raiders-themed Splatfest runs 10–12 July, giving Splatoon 3 players on the original Switch a taste of the new game’s energy before launch.
When Singapore Gets It
Splatoon Raiders is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launching globally on 23 July 2026. The digital edition is listed at US$49.99 on the US Nintendo eShop, with the physical edition at US$59.99; check the Singapore Nintendo eShop for local SGD pricing. Physical copies will be available at major game retailers and electronics chains from launch day. For a look at all things Switch 2, browse our Game News coverage.
Nintendo has scheduled a dedicated Splatoon Raiders Direct for tonight — the first time the Splatoon franchise has received its own standalone presentation — giving Switch 2 owners one final deep dive before the game launches on 23 July. For Singapore, the stream kicks off at 10pm SGT tonight, 30 June 2026, live on Nintendo’s YouTube channel.
Splatoon Raiders – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
What Is Splatoon Raiders?
Splatoon Raiders is the series’ first ever spin-off and a genuine departure from what the franchise is known for. Rather than dropping you into a multiplayer ink battle, it sends you — playing as a customisable Inkling mechanic — on a treasure-hunting expedition across the mysterious Spirhalite Islands alongside Deep Cut, the three-member idol group (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man) beloved by Splatoon 3 fans.
The structure lands closer to a dungeon-crawler than a traditional Splatoon entry. A top-down Dungeon Menu lets you chart a course through a chain of islands, each housing ink-soaked stages filled with Salmonid enemies. One Deep Cut member accompanies you in an Exploration Bot during each raid, while you fight, level up, and upgrade a growing arsenal of ink weapons and mechanical gadgets.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Solo Missions or Full Four-Player Raids
Splatoon Raiders launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on 23 July 2026 at US$49.99 digital / US$59.99 physical. Nintendo Asia has not confirmed the SGD price at the time of writing — we expect that to be updated ahead of launch. The download is approximately 20 GB.
The campaign is built around solo play, but it opens up to up to four players via online or local wireless co-op for full raids. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online play and cloud save backups. The game runs in TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes, supports compatible amiibo, and enables HDR output on supported televisions.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Splatoon 3 Splatfest: Speed vs. Power vs. Technique
Not planning to pick up a Switch 2 yet? There is still a reason to log back into Splatoon 3. A Raiders-themed Splatfest runs 10–12 July 2026 with the question “Which is the strongest?” — pitting Speed, Power, and Technique against each other. The event brings nine exclusive Splashtag designs and two new titles, making it one of the more cosmetically generous Splatfests in recent memory.
The event kicks off at 8am SGT on 11 July (5pm PT on 10 July) and wraps at 8am SGT on 13 July.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Joy-Con 2 Colours, Amiibo, and the Nintendo Today! Comics
Nintendo will release a set of Deep Cut-themed Joy-Con 2 controllers on 23 July alongside the game. Pricing for these has not been announced. Compatible amiibo will also be supported at launch.
For lore fans who want to get up to speed before tonight, Nintendo has been publishing a daily digital comic series on the Nintendo Today! app since 23 June, telling the game’s prologue story. The app is free on iOS and Android with a Nintendo Account.
The main presentation runs roughly 45 minutes, followed immediately by a Nintendo Treehouse: Live session with around 30 more minutes of extended gameplay. If you want the full picture before the 23 July launch, set a reminder now.
Image courtesy of NintendoSplatoon Raiders – Gameplay Video – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | June 2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Pokémon Pokopia has its first proper limited-time event: Wish Upon a Jirachi begins on 23 June 2026 and runs until 8 July 2026 — giving Nintendo Switch 2 players a tight two-week window to earn exclusive star-themed items that won’t be available again after the event closes.
Pokémon Pokopia | Extended Trailer — via The Official Pokémon YouTube channel
What Is Pokémon Pokopia?
If this is your first time hearing about it, Pokémon Pokopia is a life-simulation and creature-building game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, released in March 2026. You play as a Ditto that has transformed into a human, teaming up with Pokémon to construct towns, craft furniture, and build out a full settlement — think Minecraft and Animal Crossing merged into one Pokémon world.
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
Wish Upon a Jirachi — How the Event Works
The event window is 23 June 2026 at 5:00 AM to 8 July 2026 at 4:59 AM (local time). Before you log in on Tuesday, make sure you have:
Pokémon Pokopia updated to at least Version 1.1.0
An active internet connection
At least one fully rebuilt Pokémon Center in your town — Jirachi will not appear in a town without one
Once inside, talk to Jirachi at your Pokémon Center to receive a wish note recipe. You then fulfil requests from the other Pokémon in your town, which converts those wish notes into sparkling wish notes. Bring them back to Jirachi to exchange for furniture and décor inspired by the starry sky — limited items available only during this event.
Worth noting: this is the first event in Pokopia that requires a genuine software update. Earlier events were embedded in the game’s base data, which meant some players used a system-clock workaround to access them early. That won’t work here — you need the actual update installed.
What’s Coming Next for Pokémon Pokopia
The Jirachi event is part of a broader content push for the game. In August 2026, a free update will introduce underwater exploration via the Dive move, letting players head beneath the waves for the first time. Alongside that, a paid Expansion Pass is planned: the first part — Bubbly Basin, a new underwater town with new outfits, furniture, and Pokémon — arrives later in 2026. A second paid expansion follows in late 2026, with a third and final chapter set for 2027.
Switch 2 Bundle Coming 2 July
Not on a Switch 2 yet? A Pokémon Pokopia Nintendo Switch 2 bundle launches on 2 July 2026, packaging the console with a digital copy of the game. International pricing is US$499.99 / £429.99 (Europe: €539.98). A local SGD price for Singapore has not been announced as of writing — watch Nintendo Singapore for confirmation closer to launch.
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company
Last words
The Jirachi event window is genuinely short — two weeks, starting this Tuesday. If you already have Pokémon Pokopia on Switch 2, update the game and rebuild your Pokémon Center before 23 June. Singapore fans who held off on the Switch 2 have the July bundle as a timely entry point, and with a free underwater update and the Bubbly Basin expansion on the horizon, the game’s content calendar is only getting busier. Follow our game news for the latest Nintendo Switch 2 updates as they land.
After more than a decade without a new mainline entry, Rhythm Heaven Groove is tapping its way onto Nintendo Switch on 2 July 2026. In Singapore and across Asia, the game launches under the title Rhythm Heaven: Miracle Stars — and pre-orders are live right now on the Nintendo eShop.
Rhythm Heaven Groove – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
Over 80 Brand-New Rhythm Games to Master
Every one of the 80-plus minigames in Rhythm Heaven Groove is completely original — no recycled stages from earlier entries. Each game comes with its own distinct art style, giving the whole package a colourful, unpredictable energy that keeps things fresh from the first tap to the last. The core mechanic stays true to the series: hit the beat, keep your timing perfect, and ride the groove.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Beatspell — A Series-First RPG Mode
The most intriguing addition is Beatspell, a brand-new mode where you play as a wizard battling monsters by casting rhythm-powered spells. It’s unlocked as you progress through the single-player stages, and it’s the first time the franchise has ventured into RPG territory. Early previews describe it as a genuinely fun wrinkle on the formula — one that rewards players who have already sharpened their timing on the main game.
Multiplayer for Up to Four Players
More than 30 stages are designed for co-op or competitive play with up to four friends using Joy-Con controllers. Whether you’re gathered on a sofa or playing in tabletop mode, the multiplayer suite is one of the broadest in any Rhythm Heaven game to date. Critics who have previewed the game have flagged it as one of the Switch’s standout party titles this year.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
Tsunku♂ Returns — and It Means a Lot
Series composer Tsunku♂ is back on the soundtrack, a return that carries real emotional weight for longtime fans. Tsunku♂ — the legendary musician behind every previous entry — has faced serious health challenges in recent years, making his involvement here all the more meaningful. The music is, as ever, central to the whole experience.
The game was co-developed by Nintendo EPD and TNX. It supports English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Korean, making it a well-localised release for the Singapore and broader Asian market. It’s also backward-compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
Last Words
Ten years is a long time to wait for a rhythm game, and Rhythm Heaven Groove looks like it was worth every minute of the wait — 80-plus original games, a fresh RPG mode, strong multiplayer, and Tsunku♂ back on the keys. Singapore Switch owners: pre-orders are open at the Nintendo Singapore eShop right now. Check our game news for more Nintendo updates.
It’s the announcement that stopped Switch 2 fans mid-scroll: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being remade for Nintendo Switch 2, confirmed during the June 9 Nintendo Direct. The N64 masterpiece — the game that defined 3D action-adventure for a generation — is coming back, rebuilt for modern hardware and landing exclusively on Switch 2 in 2026.
Image courtesy of NintendoThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
What Nintendo Has Confirmed About the Ocarina of Time Remake
The June 9 Direct reveal was short but loaded with intent. Nintendo’s official description: “The Nintendo 64 classic returns for a new generation in 2026, reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.” That single line tells us three things — it’s Switch 2 exclusive, it’s arriving this year, and Nintendo is calling it a reimagining, not a port.
Nintendo further described the project as featuring “stunning visuals, updated designs, and timeless gameplay” — language that signals a genuine visual overhaul while preserving the core dungeon-crawling and exploration that made the original legendary. The teaser showed a redesigned Link in a clean, modern art style that respects the source material without looking like a straight upscale.
The developer has not been announced. More details are promised “in the future” from Nintendo, so expect either a dedicated Direct or a shadow drop sometime before year end.
Why Ocarina of Time Still Matters in 2026
First released on the Nintendo 64 in November 1998, Ocarina of Time sits at a Metacritic score of 99 and is still cited by many as one of the most important games ever made. It introduced Z-targeting combat, cracked the code for 3D adventure design, and gave us unforgettable set-pieces — Hyrule Field’s opening horizon, the Temple of Time’s organ chord, the final Ganondorf duel under a storming sky.
Nintendo revisited the game on 3DS in 2011 with Ocarina of Time 3D, which added improved textures and gyroscope aiming. The Switch 2 remake is the first major reimagining in 15 years — a full generation leap, not a touch-up.
Image courtesy of Nintendo
What Singapore Switch 2 Owners Should Know
The Nintendo Switch 2 is available in Singapore through retailers including GameXtreme, Qisahn, and the Nintendo Asia eShop. The Ocarina of Time remake is confirmed for a 2026 launch, but no exact release date or SGD price has been announced — both are to be confirmed. All previous Zelda titles in the Asia region eShop have shipped with English-language support, and the same is expected here, though Nintendo has not specifically confirmed this for the remake.
This is a Switch 2 exclusive — there will be no Switch 1 version. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading, this is exactly the kind of first-party exclusive Nintendo uses to make the decision for you.
For a generation of Singapore gamers who grew up navigating the Deku Tree on a CRT television, seeing Hyrule rebuilt for Switch 2 is a genuinely exciting moment. Nintendo hasn’t shown gameplay yet, and the release date remains vague — but the intent is clear. We’ll be covering every reveal as it drops. Stay tuned.
Monolith Soft and Nintendo landed one of the Nintendo Direct’s most memorable moments: the reveal of Xenoblade Genesis, an all-new entry in the beloved RPG series built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 and launching in 2027. From the look of the reveal trailer, this is a deliberate reinvention — same legendary team, completely fresh world.
Xenoblade Genesis – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
A Brand-New World: Anshar and the Power of Anima
Xenoblade Genesis is set in Anshar, an annular world bathed in the light of six suns — a setting that immediately signals a break from both the colossal Titans of Xenoblade Chronicles and the Blades and Titans of Chronicles 2. The land is governed by a primordial force called Anima, described as the source of all things, flowing through the world and its creatures.
Warriors who can channel Anima in combat are known as Vesselai. They wield special weapons enhanced by crystalline artefacts called crystones, which amplify their abilities and — notably — record their thoughts and actions, adding an intriguing lore dimension to even the gear system. The trailer hints at sweeping vistas, enormous flying creatures, and a conflict with high stakes: the shadow of “a fallen god’s vengeance” looms over the narrative.
Image courtesy of Nintendo / Monolith Soft
Meet Eleanor — and the Academy of Leukos
The protagonist is Eleanor, who enrolls at Leukos, an academy that trains Vesselai. The academy framing immediately evokes Fire Emblem: Three Houses more than the open-world sprawl of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and that’s clearly intentional — Genesis appears to root its early story in student politics and coming-of-age bonds before expanding into something larger.
Visually, Eleanor and her companions sport elf-like features, and the game’s rideable mounts — creatures that look like a wolf-horse hybrid — are already turning heads. Character designs come from Mai Yoneyama and PALOW, a pairing that brings distinct anime-art sensibilities to the Xenoblade aesthetic.
Image courtesy of Nintendo / Monolith Soft
The Team Behind It
Tetsuya Takahashi directs, as he has on every major Xeno title from Xenogears (1998) onwards. The musical team is equally formidable: Yasunori Mitsuda — the composer behind Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2‘s sweeping original score — returns alongside Mariam Abounnasr and Minami Kiyota, both contributors to Xenoblade Chronicles 3. For JRPG fans, that lineup alone is reason to pay attention.
Switch 2 Editions for the Existing Trilogy
Nintendo also announced Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, making the full modern trilogy accessible natively on Switch 2 ahead of Genesis‘s 2027 window. Pricing for those upgrades is to be confirmed.
Last Words
Singapore JRPG fans who have followed Monolith Soft’s work know the studio consistently punches above its weight — each Xenoblade entry has pushed the limits of Nintendo hardware to deliver genuinely massive, emotionally resonant worlds. Xenoblade Genesis looks set to continue that tradition with a fresh cast, a fresh setting, and the legendary Mitsuda back on the score. No price or local eShop listing yet, but 2027 is the window. Follow our News section for updates as they come.
