Xenoblade Chronicles Finally Gets a Release In NA...At Gamestop Only

[Hadrian]

Now NA gamers can officially buy the finest Japanese RPG game for years! So now some can stop complaining about a game that most was going to pirate anyway.

Despite heavy fan demand for Monolith Soft's role-playing masterpiece, Nintendo of America still hasn't revealed plans to bring Xenoblade Chronicles to North America. Who will step in and save U.S. role-players from missing out on what is arguable one of the best RPGs of this console generation? Would you believe GameStop?

Talk about your unlikely rescues. While publisher Nintendo is still quiet about bringing the game stateside despite loud, organized protests from role-playing fans, it looks as if retailer GameStop has picked up the RPG ball and is running with it. Spotted by NeoGAF and verified with several GameStop locations this morning, the store's computers now list Xenoblade Chronicles for an April 3 release as a GameStop exclusive.

That means eager North American role-players can walk into their local GameStop right now, plop down a fiver, and reserve their own copy of what people are saying is the greatest RPG since waiting your turn to slice people.

If I had to guess, I'd say Nintendo, worried about losing money on a North American release, cut potential losses with a GameStop exclusivity deal. Then again I say a lot of things.

We've reached out to Nintendo of America to see how this this turn of events came about, and will update should we hear back.

Update: Nintendo of America's Facebook page just updated with images from Xenoblade Chronicles (Thanks, Taggart451). If there were any doubts, that should take care of them.

http://kotaku.com/58...unlikely-source

 

[Hyro-Sama]

I hope it's the bundle with a red Classic Controller Pro and not just the game.

 

[UtadaRumiko]

Just heard about this from Gameinformer. Just when I thought the Wii was going to die after Skyward Sword. This is pretty awesome. Can't wait.

 

[notmeanymore]

Just heard about this from Gameinformer. Just when I thought the Wii was going to die after Skyward Sword. This is pretty awesome. Can't wait.

Clearly you've forgotten Dragon Quest X. I will say I'm looking forward more to Xenoblade Chronicles though.

 

[Hadrian]

Just heard about this from Gameinformer. Just when I thought the Wii was going to die after Skyward Sword. This is pretty awesome. Can't wait.

Well NoE are still releasing The Last Story, Pandora's Tower plus they did say that there will be some other games they've yet to have announced. That and another DQ game though some would probably grab the Wii U version instead.

There was a survival horror game that looked great but so far its only got a Japanese release date.

 

[TheDarkSeed]

I hear it's a Gamestop exclusive? If it means they're only selling it at gamestop, then that would be a huge middle finger to all the people that pre-ordered it on Amazon to support Operation Rainfall.

 

[Deleted-236924]

At least, Gamestop is "doing the right thing"' right?

 

[Gh0sti]

this will be good ill try the game once its released in NA

 

[Ryupower]

Xenoblade Chronicles arrives in the US in 'April 2012' [update]

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After this morning's accidental retail reveal of Xenoblade Chronicles coming to North America, Nintendo has made the game's launch official, pinning an "April 2012" release date to the much hyped Wii RPG. Nintendo teased the reveal earlier today with a new gallery of Xenoblade artwork that mysteriously popped up on Facebook, though at the time there was no news attached to said tease.

Despite Nintendo not giving a date to the game, this morning's image indicated an April 3 launch. GameStop's website, however, reflects an April 2 date, post-official announce. We're just gonna go with "early April" for now.

So, after this, now all the Operation Rainfall folks need to do is get those other two Wii RPGs to come out in the US, and we'll be all set! We'll get right back to helping with that just as soon as we get through Skyward Sword and Xenoblade Chronicles. In, like, 120 hours, give or take.

Update:According to the official PR that Nintendo of America just sent out, the game will be sold exclusively through GameStop retail outlets and Nintendo.com's website for $49.99.

Source: Nintendo

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Tried the EU version and it was a snorefest. I don't think I'll be bothered with the US version.

And it's only a "limited edition" release because JRPGs aren't exactly big sellers over here unless they're with a huge series (Final Fantasy, for example). A limited release ensures that people who want it can get it without NoA risking too much.

 

[KingVamp]

We need to support this for rgps sake. I guess I will be picking this up.

 

[RoMee]

They should had done this during the Euro release. Most people who wants to play this game already pirated it.

 

[impizkit]

Way to come in late on this NOA, this game was the reason I softmodded my wii. Watch, the US version will be better now and make me want to start over.

 

[Deleted_171835]

Well I never really bothered with the EU version. I'll pick this up and hopefully I'll be motivated to finish it.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Wait wait wait... So the game doesn't get a US release and people complain. Understandable I guess. But when it does get announced, people complain anyway?

Well fuck me sideways.

 

[awssk8er]

I saw it on Nintendo's Facebook.

Every post they make (Even if unrelated to Xenoblade) people would spam them with messages saying, "BRING US XENOBLADE." Then when Nintendo finally did it, the responses weren't as positive as they should have been.

It really seems people only wanted the game because they couldn't have it. Whatever. It will boost sales.

I have no interest in the game.

 

[emigre]

From what I've played the game's pretty good. There was nothing from the ten hours or so I played to make me think "best RPG this gen!!!" But considering the Wii has jackshit in JRPGs and this generation of home consoles have a relatively small library of JRPGs, it might be worth picking this up to show Nintendo, you want these type of games.

 

[D34DL1N3R]

Tried the EU version and it was a snorefest. I don't think I'll be bothered with the US version.

Watch, the US version will be better now and make me want to start over.

Why would it be any different?

 

[DeathStrudel]

Wait wait wait... So the game doesn't get a US release and people complain. Understandable I guess. But when it does get announced, people complain anyway?

Well fuck me sideways.

I don't see anyone complaining.....the closest thing I see is people pointing out that they don't really care as much because they already played the PAL version since they assumed they weren't going to see a US release. That's not really the same as complaining.

 

[Forstride]

Love how people are still complaining about things related to this over on Nintendo's Facebook page. Ungrateful little fucks. You beg, spam, and petition for a generic JRPG to be released in the US, and now that it is, you still complain? What the fuck, man.

EDIT: By complaining I mean "Where's The Last Story?" "Where's Pandora's Tower" "Wow, took fucking long enough -_-" and other shit like that.