Rounding out the Nintendo Partners Direct was two games announced by Square Enix, a new IP, and a prequel to the popular Octopath Traveler franchise, entitled Octopath Traveler 0. The game is set to launch on December 4, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, as well as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. This will mark the first time the franchise has released a game on all platforms at launch.
Another first for the series will be the ability to customize your main character as the player sets out on a “journey of restoration” after the lead character’s hometown of Wishvale is burned to the ground. While the trailer doesn’t go in-depth into this function, rebuilding the town will play a pivotal role in the narrative, similar to another Square Enix IP, Bravely Default. The trailer showcases the HD-2D art style that the franchise helped popularize when first released in 2018 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
A press release for the game has also stated that there will be over 30 recruitable party members for the player to recruit, which has been capped at 8 prior, hence the name. The game’s signature boost & break system will also make a comeback. If a prequel to the franchise sounds familiar to you, much of this game draws from the mobile spin-off of the series, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. The mobile title was released originally in 2020, with a broader release in 2022, before ultimately seeing service ended earlier this year. In that same press release, Square Enix stated that while this entry was indeed “inspired by story elements and gameplay ideas from that game, ” this one was built from the ground up to be a “full-fledged console and PC RPG.”
They went on to say:
The name Octopath Traveler 0 conveys the idea that you’re undertaking a journey of your own making. Whether you’ve played the first game in the series, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, or even neither, we’ve packed this game with original experiences that can be enjoyed by anyone! I look forward to players experiencing this new story for themselves.
Square Enix also announced during the Nintendo Direct that Romancing Saga II: Revenge of the Seven, a remake of the classic RPG title, which was released last year but skipped the Nintendo Switch, is now available for the Nintendo Switch 2.
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