Octopath Traveler 2 Became A Multiplatform Release For Better Sales

Octopath Traveler is a JRPG franchise featuring a unique 2D-HD graphical style which was first launched in 2018 for Nintendo Switch and later released for PC and Xbox. A sequel to the original game, Octopath Traveler 2, was recently released on 24th February 2023 for Nintendo Switch and various platforms.

While the first game did not release on PlayStation, Octopath Traveler 2 is available for PS4 and PS5. Recently, Director Keisuke Miyauchi and producer Masashi Takahashi discussed the decision to make Octopath Traveler 2 a multiplatform release in an interview with Push Square.

Masashi Takasahi said:

“We made the decision internally after observing the sales of other titles.”

When asked about a possible PlayStation release for the first game, Takahashi explained that while they initially intended for it to be available on the platform, the decision was made against it due to a potential clash between the two games.

However, this begs the question about an Xbox release for Octopath Traveler 2. The game has skipped Xbox at launch but may later join the console, possibly through Xbox Game Pass.

Octopath Traveler 2 initially launched with positive reviews, with many praising its visual aesthetics and unique combat. Despite that, the game sold only 78,000 copies across all platforms within the first week of its launch.

Compared to its sequel, Octopath Traveler 1 sold almost 350K copies within the first week of its launch.

Takahashi mentioned that Octopath Traveler 2 is an entirely different story unrelated to the first game, and players can jump into the sequel without having played the first. However, many players may have skipped the sequel due to unfamiliarity with the franchise.

Team Asano’s Live A Live Remake and Triangle Strategy also did not perform well, leading to speculation that Square Enix may rethink their strategy of releasing more 2D-HD games. Have you played Octopath Traveler 2? What did you think of the game? Let us know in the comments down below.