„Please make sure you purchase the correct version” Square Enix warns players that Octopath Traveler 0 won't have a Switch 2 upgrade

Today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase revealed twenty-five games coming to the Switch and Switch 2, including two notable inclusions from Square Enix. The final announcement that closed out the show was a new entry in the Octopath Traveler series, Octopath Traveler 0 (zero). This modern take on the classic JRPG style has earned a strong following, but Square Enix might be giving them something to complain about. Apparently, when they make their purchase, players will have to choose which Nintendo console version they want.

Octopath Traveler 0’s surprise reveal today is hampered by a strange decision

With the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, it has become all too common for many popular Switch titles to receive an upgraded version for the Switch 2. This includes classics like Breath of the Wild, but also upcoming games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. But for some reason, Square Enix has decided that for Octopath Traveler 0, players will have to make a choice and stick with it.

Clarified in a social media post by Square Enix: “It is not possible to upgrade from the Switch version to the Switch 2 version once purchased. There are also no plans for an option to upgrade to the Switch 2 version in the future. Please make sure you purchase the correct version.” Apparently, the Switch 2 version (both digital and physical) is also only playable on the Nintendo Switch 2, according to the same social media thread.

Understandably, this has players in an uncomfortable position. While the Nintendo Switch 2 has quickly become the fastest-selling console in history, that doesn’t mean that it’s a widely owned system yet. If players do want to pre-order, they’ll have to lock into a console choice now. Octopath Traveler 0 is planned to be released on December 4th, 2025. Perhaps they are hoping that more people will gravitate towards the new console this holiday season.

Generally, gamers like flexibility. They like to be able to take their games with them, and especially to play the most up-to-date version. Now, when anyone purchases the Switch version of Octopath Traveler 0, they will have to consider whether they would rather wait until they have access to a Switch 2. This is the kind of decision point that may not bode well for Square Enix.

Ultimately, we will have to see how this plays out as physical pre-orders are available now, with digital pre-orders becoming available at a later date. There are likely enough Nintendo Switch owners out there to make it worthwhile to stick to the old console, but the lack of cohesion between the old and the new will be frustrating for the most dedicated fans. Since Octopath Traveler 0 will also be available on other consoles, like the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5, players might gravitate to those other platforms instead.

• Nintendo
• jRPG
• Square Enix
• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch 2