Monolith Soft has issued its latest update for the Nintendo Switch exclusive RPG Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Update 1.2.0 is now live in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and makes just a handful of relatively small changes to the game. However, it also is a key step in a major addition to the game, namely the new Expansion Pass wave of content. For Switch owners looking to return to the world of Aionios and put in a few more hours on top of the dozens necessary to complete Xenoblade Chronicles 3's story, this is that opportunity.The Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass has promised three waves of content. The first wave of DLC arrived on July 29 introducing all-new accessories, outfit color variants, and rewarding various currencies. It was an immediate wave of largely insubstantial content to encourage the purchase of the Expansion Pass at launch. Wave 2 adds Challenge Battles, a new hero named Ino, and even more outfits. Wave 3 further expands Challenge Battles, adds not just a new hero but also more quests, and more outfits. Lastly, Wave 4 adds an entirely new scenario.Patch 1.2.0, now available in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, is similar in nature to Patch 1.1.0, which arrived on launch day. The 1.1.0 patch was necessary in order to enable function of the first wave of the Expansion Pass. Patch 1.2.0's main function is to enable the receipt of Expansion Pass Wave 2. As such, in order to download and play the new Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass content, players also have to be updated to Patch 1.2.0.
There are other changes and fixes in Patch 1.2.0 included as well. Monolith Soft took the opportunity to include changes where it made sense in the update. Changes include the ability to purchase Soyprimo Sauce at the City Caravan Shop and an increase to the effect time bonus for Fusion Arts using the Flash Fencer's Acceleration Art.
Fixes in the update include the ability to unlock Collectopedia entries for Gogol Dalm and Gogol Olipple, which previously weren't working, an audio issue revolving around falling in battle while the screen faded to black, and other nonspecific changes to "improve the gameplay experience." Players will have to discover these invisible gameplay changes on their own, it seems.
Overall, this is a relatively inconsequential update to Xenoblade Chronicles 3 other than it being required to access Expansion Pass content. As noted, the update is available to download now. The next wave of Expansion Pass content, and a likely accompanying update, is tentatively planned for release in late April 2023.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is available now on Switch.
