Octopath Traveler Switch 2 Ports Offer No Upgrade Path, No Save Transfer
Square Enix released Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler 2 for Switch 2 in Japan on July 13, with a US release set for October 1.
1 source Jul 17
Reporting from 1 source: Anime News Network.
Why it matters
Square Enix's decision to sell the Switch 2 ports as new purchases with no upgrade path or save transfer has frustrated existing owners and may influence how future cross-generation releases are handled.
Owners of the original Switch versions cannot upgrade or transfer their save data, and must buy full-price copies. The US release will use game key cards rather than standard physical media. RPGSite reports the ports are better than the Switch 1 versions, but the lack of upgrade options has drawn criticism.
The Octopath Traveler games have arrived on Switch 2, but Square Enix is not making it easy for returning players. The first two titles launched in Japan on July 13 and are scheduled for a US release on October 1, yet anyone who already owns the Switch 1 versions will have to buy them again at full price. There is no discount or upgrade option, and save data from the original releases cannot be carried over.
Adding to the friction, the US release will come as game key cards rather than standard physical discs or cartridges. While game key cards are resellable, they are not the same as conventional physical media. According to RPGSite, the ports do run noticeably better than the Switch 1 versions, but the overall experience is only described as okay. The lack of an upgrade path, combined with the save transfer restriction, has drawn sharp criticism from players who have invested dozens of hours into the RPGs.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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Sources
- Anime News Network This Week in Games Octo Paths and None of Them Lead to Upgrades