{
  "schemaVersion": "1.3",
  "id": "xenoblade-chronicles-2-switch-2",
  "slug": "xenoblade-chronicles-2-switch-2",
  "product": "Xenoblade Chronicles™ 2 – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition",
  "title": "Xenoblade Chronicles™ 2 – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition",
  "job": "Is the date real, do they need to spend, what can they skip.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-04",
  "timezoneNote": "Calendar dates are as published.",
  "lifecycle": {
    "postedAt": "2026-09-03",
    "announcedPlatformReleases": [
      {
        "platform": "Nintendo Switch 2 (digital)",
        "date": "2026-07-30",
        "sourceIds": [
          "nintendo-store"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "Nintendo Switch 2 (physical)",
        "date": "2026-10-01",
        "sourceIds": [
          "nintendo-physical"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "text": "As an Amazon Associate, NeedFlag earns from qualifying purchases."
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "nintendo-store",
      "label": "Nintendo store — Xenoblade Chronicles 2 NS2 Edition",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition-switch-2/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-physical",
      "label": "Nintendo store — physical edition",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition-125673/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-upgrade",
      "label": "Nintendo store — upgrade pack",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition-upgrade-pack-switch-2/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-showroom",
      "label": "Nintendo showroom — Xenoblade Chronicles NS2 Edition",
      "url": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/showroom/xenoblade-chronicles-nintendo-switch-2-edition/"
    },
    {
      "id": "nintendo-microsd-express",
      "label": "Nintendo Support — microSD Express compatibility",
      "url": "https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68425"
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-org",
      "label": "ESRB — Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition",
      "url": "https://www.esrb.org/ratings/41365/xenoblade-chronicle-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition/"
    }
  ],
  "official": [
    {
      "id": "launch-date",
      "label": "Launch date",
      "value": "30 July 2026 digital; 1 October 2026 physical",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store",
        "nintendo-physical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "launch-date-physical",
      "label": "Physical launch",
      "value": "1 October 2026",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-physical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "platforms",
      "label": "Launch platforms",
      "value": "Nintendo Switch 2",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "esrb-category",
      "label": "ESRB rating",
      "value": "T",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-04",
      "sourceIds": [
        "esrb-org"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher",
      "label": "Publisher",
      "value": "Nintendo",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-game",
      "label": "Game + upgrade pack (digital)",
      "value": "$69.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-physical",
      "label": "Physical edition",
      "value": "$69.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-physical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "price-upgrade",
      "label": "Upgrade for existing Switch owners",
      "value": "$9.99",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "USD.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-upgrade"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "players",
      "label": "Players",
      "value": "1",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size-us",
      "label": "Install size (US)",
      "value": "37.7 GB",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "install-size-other",
      "label": "Install size (other regions)",
      "value": "37.6 GB",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "notes": "US listing shows 37.7 GB.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "display",
      "label": "Display modes",
      "value": "4K TV compatible; 1080p handheld; 60fps",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-showroom",
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "additions",
      "label": "Switch 2 additions",
      "value": "MOMO Rare Blade, Merc Assault, styles",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "media": {
    "trailer": {
      "label": "Official trailer",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "kind": "video",
      "youtubeId": null,
      "videoUrl": "https://assets.nintendo.com/video/upload/Microsites/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition/videos/Switch2_XC2-NS2E_OverviewTRL_Gameplay_ESRB_h264.mp4",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition-switch-2/",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    "still": {
      "label": "Official still",
      "src": "/media/xenoblade-chronicles-2-switch-2/official-still.jpg",
      "credit": "Nintendo",
      "pageUrl": "https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch-2-edition-switch-2/",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    }
  },
  "decisions": [
    {
      "id": "buy-now-set",
      "item": "Buy-now set",
      "verdict": "empty",
      "rationale": "Nothing currently earns a yes. Empty buy slots are intentional. No catalog. No affiliate slots until a line is a yes.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "digital",
      "item": "Digital ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed digital edition (game + upgrade pack).",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "physical",
      "item": "Physical ($69.99)",
      "verdict": "fork",
      "rationale": "Confirmed physical edition. Same listed price as digital; later street date.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-physical"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4NPB4PS?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "upgrade",
      "item": "Upgrade for Switch owners ($9.99)",
      "verdict": "hold",
      "rationale": "An owner-only upgrade is listed. Whether the Switch version is already owned is not confirmed.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-upgrade"
      ],
      "affiliate": null
    },
    {
      "id": "switch-2-microsd-express-256",
      "item": "Switch 2 Samsung microSD Express 256 GB",
      "verdict": "yes",
      "rationale": "Switch 2 will not run games from regular microSD. Digital installs beyond internal need Express.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-07",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-microsd-express"
      ],
      "affiliate": {
        "present": true,
        "href": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3VTCZK8?tag=needflag-20",
        "note": "Amazon Associates."
      }
    }
  ],
  "openHoles": [
    {
      "id": "developer",
      "question": "Who is the developer?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not recorded on this brief.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "cart-format",
      "question": "What is the cart format?",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not recorded on this brief.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-physical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "accessibility-subscription",
      "question": "Accessibility, subscription catalog, and cloud",
      "status": "unknown",
      "notes": "Not recorded on this brief.",
      "lastChecked": "2026-09-03",
      "sourceIds": [
        "nintendo-store"
      ]
    }
  ]
}