Gamescom is one of the most significant annual events in gaming, making it an ideal time for announcements and surprise reveals. One such reveal is that Square Enix’s Bravely Default 2 will no longer be a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Square Enix announced on Thursday that the game is on its way to PC very soon. The publisher confirmed that Bravely Default 2 arrives on Steam on September 2. That means JRPG fans on PC won’t have long to wait before trying the game for themselves.
Square accompanied the announcement with a three-minute trailer, teasing the story and characters. The game was originally released on Nintendo Switch back in February. However, there was no indication it would not remain a Switch exclusive. This makes the PC port a welcome surprise for many PC JRPG fans, as indicated by the comments under the trailer on YouTube.
Despite its name, Bravely Default 2 is the third game in the series, which started with Bravely Default in 2012. The original game remains a 3DS exclusive, as is its direct sequel, Bravely Second: End Layer. However, Bravely Default 2 tells a separate story with new characters in an original setting. It also somewhat tweaked the graphical design, creating something that has been described as a combination of Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler. Its music and story are also highly praised, earning favorable comparisons to the generally spectacular tracks from the Dragon Quest series. It also kept its predecessor’s unique take on turn-based JRPG combat, although some reviews have criticized Bravely Default 2 for having tedious boss fights.
The story of Bravely Default 2 follows four main characters, Seth, Gloria, Elvis, and Adelle. Each comes from different walks of life, being a sailor, an exiled princess, a traveling scholar, and a mercenary, respectively. They must work together to collect four elemental crystals stolen from Gloria’s homeland. Doing so is the only way to save their world from an ancient evil known as the Night’s Nexus. Some have noted it’s not the most original story ever told, adhering somewhat rigidly to established JRPG tropes.
However, few critics had much negative to say about Bravely Default 2. So, it’s no surprise that many PC gamers expressed excitement about the game’s imminent port. It also prompted a few comments asking for ports of the first two games and other Nintendo-exclusive Square Enix titles. For now, though, JRPG fans on PC will have to content themselves with the port of Bravely Default 2 coming to Steam next week.
Bravely Default 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch and arrives on PC via Steam on September 2.