Xenoblade Chronicles Receives April 6 Release Date in North America

Mark your calendars RPG fans, Nintendo has announced that the Gamestop-exclusive release of Xenoblade Chronicles in North America will happen on April 6. This is the second time the long awaited Japanese role playing game has been released in an English speaking region, with the first being Europe on August 19 of 2011. Read on for more details.

Xenoblade Chronicles is a traditional Japanese role playing game that integrates an open-ended MMORPG feel in the way players can freely explore the overworld. According to Tetsuya Takahashi -- the game's director -- players will be able to explore most of the overworld at the very start of the game. The game also employs a "real-time action based" battle system which is similar to that of Final Fantasy XII. Xenoblade Chronicles will also feature a day-night cycle, a time elapse system, landmark warp points, and a "save anywhere" feature. 

The English localization of Xenoblade Chronicles has been very controversial. After Nintendo of Europe was not able to show Xenoblade Chronicles at E3 2011, users on IGNBoards began a campaign titled "Operation Rainfall" to attempt to persuade Nintendo of America to localize the game. Operation Rainfall also aimed to bring The Last Story and Pandora's Tower to North America. A few days later, Xenoblade Chronicles reached #1 on the best-selling games list on Amazon.com, which later lead to Nintendo officially announcing a North American release of the game on December 2, 2011. Depsite Xenoblade Chronicles receiving an official North American release, The Last Story and Pandora’s Tower will currently only receive an English release in Europe.

Before this official announcement of the April 6 release date of Xenoblade Chronicles in North America, only a placeholder “April 2012” date was known. Around the time of Nintendo of America’s official confirmation of the game’s release in North America, rumours swirled that the title would be released on April 2. It now appears with the announcement of this official date that the rumors were not far off.

With so many English fans clamouring to the releases and announcements of Nintendo’s previously Japanese-exclusive RPGs, it comes as a surprise that more of these types of games are not released in North America. Groups like “Operation Rainfall” have proven that there is a market for this type of game in North America and while Atlus seems to read the message loud and clear, Nintendo appears to be deaf to it. With lots of press surrounding the English localization of The Last Story, North American RPG fans can only hope that Nintendo will once again wise up and release yet another great Japanese role playing game here in North America. They have two to choose from, they just need to push them out the door.

When released on April 6, Xenoblade Chronicles will be exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. 

Source: NintendoLife

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