Rejoice! Xenoblade Chronicles is out now on Wii U eShop

By Danny Cowan Published April 29, 2016

The debut chapter in Nintendo’s Xenoblade Chronicles series is now available for download via the Wii U eShop, giving players access to a budget-priced rendition of what was once a treasured rarity among collectors.

This week also marks the eShop launch of Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, a free-to-play puzzler for the Wii U and 3DS, powered by Nintendo’s collectible amiibo figurines.

Recommended Videos

Originally released for the Nintendo Wii in Japan in 2010, Xenoblade Chronicles is an open-world role-playing game with an emphasis on real-time combat. Though the game was praised by critics, Nintendo initially had no plans for a worldwide launch, leading to the formation of the fan-driven Operation Rainfall grassroots promotional campaign in the hopes of securing a localized release.

While a North American version of Xenoblade Chronicles surfaced in 2012, a low print run left players at the mercy of inflated aftermarket prices for years afterward. The game was subsequently reworked and re-released as the New Nintendo 3DS-exclusive Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, and a sequel, Xenoblade Chronicles X, launched for the Wii U in 2015. The Wii U eShop version of Xenoblade Chronicles is priced at $20.

Also arriving on the eShop this week is Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, a free-to-play puzzle game for the Wii U and 3DS. Similar to the classic puzzler Lemmings, Mini Mario & Friends challenges players to guide each level’s starring character across dangerous 2D terrain by flipping switches, drawing platforms, and solving environmental puzzles.

Players can unlock additional levels and characters in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge by placing compatible amiibo figurines atop the Wii U GamePad or New 3DS portable’s NFC sensor.

Bandai Namco’s free-to-play multiplayer action-RPG Lost Reavers also hits the Wii U eShop this week alongside Mobot Studios’ survival-oriented platformer The Deer God. 3DS eShop releases for the week include the dungeon-crawling RPG ASH and the 16-bit era retrogaming compilation Sega 3D Classics Collection.

Former Contributor

Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

Topics

Gaming

Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme could be the plot twist handheld gaming needed

My time with the MSI Claw and Acer Predator Atlas suggests AMD finally has genuine competition.

Intel Arc G3 Extreme Hands On with Acer Predator Atlas 8

If there’s one gadget category I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time obsessing over in the past few years, it’s handheld gaming PCs. I’ve put hundreds of hours into the Steam Deck, bought an original ROG Ally for myself, and most recently reviewed the ROG Xbox Ally X in depth. I’ve seen this market evolve from a cool experiment into something that can genuinely replace a gaming laptop for quick sessions on the couch or while travelling. I’ve also experienced its biggest weakness firsthand. No matter how good these machines get, there’s always some compromise lurking around the corner, whether it’s battery life, thermals, performance, or software quirks.

So when I landed at Computex 2026 and got the chance to spend time with Acer’s brand-new Predator Atlas 8 and MSI’s latest Claw 8 EX AI+, I was naturally excited. Not just because they looked cool, but because they represented something the handheld market desperately needed: real competition. Truth be told, Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme processor might just be the most important handheld announcement we’ve seen in years. And honestly? It’s about time.

Gaming

Xbox’s next era may start with a painful question about console prices

A new Xbox Wire post points to surging parts costs, tighter supply, and more pressure on future console pricing.

Xbox is putting unusual pressure on its own console business, and a new Xbox Wire post gives players a clear reason to watch for an Xbox price hike.

Microsoft says storage and memory prices are climbing fast, while Xbox can’t currently make as many consoles as players want to buy. It also says the business needs a new hardware model and new partnerships as it remains committed to Helix.

Gaming

Steam is ending gift cards because scammers were raising too much hell

Digital gift cards will remain, but physical cards are being retired from stores

Steam gift cards.

Valve is pulling physical Steam gift cards from retail stores, bringing an end to a program that has been around since 2012. The company confirmed, as spotted via SteamDB, that it will no longer send new stock of Steam gift cards to retailers once current supplies run out.

Digital Steam gift cards are not going away. Valve says users will still be able to buy them directly through Steam, and existing physical cards can still be redeemed whenever users choose. Retail stock, however, is expected to disappear by the end of 2026.