Square Enix has officially announced that Octopath Traveler 2 is in development, as part of Tuesday's Nintendo Direct. This was the Nintendo Direct that Switch fans have been waiting for, with major announcements having been rumored since the start of 2022. Few likely expected Square Enix to participate in such major way, however, it announced plans for multiple games, including the 2D-HD sequel Octopath Traveler 2.

Octopath Traveler launched in July 2018 as a timed exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. The game's release was celebrated as Square Enix's return to the pixel-art JRPGs that made the company what it is today, modernized for a new generation. It also faced criticism, however, for its disjointed overarching story, the lack of connection between party members, and grindy progression. With Square Enix's Octopath Traveler team moving on to Triangle Strategy, some worried an Octopath Traveler sequel wouldn't be made.

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There was never a need for worry, as Square Enix's Business Division 11 development team is now actively working Octopath Traveler 2. There's more good news to follow that, too. Octopath Traveler 2 already has a release date, and it's not far off. JRPG fans will be able to play Octopath Traveler starting February 24, 2023, just five months from now.

While details about the new JRPG are understandably thin, given its surprise announcement, Square Enix has shared some early information. The sequel will feature eight new protagonists, mirroring the eight starting classes of the original game. There names are Hikari, Agnea, Partitio, Osvald, Throne, Temenos, Ochette, and Castti. They each have their own path actions, one for day and one for night. Square Enix also says these characters will interact with each other much more than in the original Octopath Traveler.

Those who skipped the original Octopath Traveler won't have to go back to the first game, either. Octopath Traveler 2 is a completely standalone game set in an entirely new world named Solistia. The Octopath Traveler 2 experience will still be deeply familiar to those that played the first game, with the returning Break and Boost combat (expanded in exciting new ways), and an evolved HD-2D art style.

Square Enix's throwback JRPGs have been warmly embraced by an audience that fondly recalls Final Fantasy games prior to Final Fantasy 7. Octopath Traveler marked the start of an exciting trend, with Triangle Strategy and the Live A Live remake both having launched and a Dragon Quest 3 remake on the way. Octopath Traveler 2 is Square Enix's opportunity to show what it's learned and what's next for HD-2D going forward.

Octopath Traveler 2 releases February 24, 2023, on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.

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