Square Enix Prices Polished Octopath Traveler at Full Price

Square Enix has officially announced upgraded Nintendo Switch 2 editions of Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler 2, and on the surface, this looks like a win for RPG fans. Both games are already beloved for their stunning HD-2D art style, deep storytelling, and satisfying turn-based combat. With improved resolution and framerate on the new hardware, these enhanced versions could be the definitive way to experience them.

You might assume, reasonably, that if you already own one of these games on the original Switch, you could pay a small fee , say, $10 , to access the visual upgrade on Switch 2. In 2026, that feels standard. After all, these are purely graphical enhancements with no new story content. But Square Enix has once again made a baffling decision: there is no upgrade path, and if you want the Switch 2 version, you must buy it at full price, even if you already own the original.

Buried in the fine print of the trailer’s final splash screen, the text reads: “There are no plans to sell an upgrade pack to upgrade the Nintendo Switch version to the Nintendo Switch 2 version.” This is not just frustrating , it’s almost certainly a missed business opportunity. The original Octopath Traveler and its sequel each retail for $60 on Switch 1. The Switch 2 versions will likely cost the same. If you don’t own either game, that’s fine , just wait until the October 1 release and buy the better version. But if you already own one, paying another $60 for a marginally sharper version feels like a non-starter. I would seriously consider a $10 upgrade fee, but a full second purchase? No chance. And I doubt I’m alone.

To make matters worse, save data is not compatible between the Switch 1 and Switch 2 versions. So even if you do shell out the full price again, you’re starting from scratch. Why would anyone do that? What’s the point of releasing enhanced versions of games that are eight and three years old, only to sell them to the small pool of players who haven’t already bought them?

Square Enix’s approach to upgrades remains frustratingly inconsistent. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is only available on Switch 2, skipping the original Switch entirely , which makes some sense. But Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, a game with Nintendo DS roots, is also a Switch 2 exclusive, which feels unnecessary. Meanwhile, games like the Dragon Quest remakes and Final Fantasy Tactics offer free upgrade paths from Switch 1 to Switch 2, proving Square Enix can be generous when it wants to. And then there’s Romancing Saga 2, which charges $10 for its upgrade. There is no clear logic here.

So if you’re an RPG fan who somehow hasn’t played either Octopath Traveler game yet, the Switch 2 versions arrive on October 1. You can buy physical copies individually or grab digital copies separately or as a bundle. Just be careful which version you buy , there’s no free upgrade to fix a mistake. And if you’d rather save money and don’t care about visual polish, both games are currently on deep discount for the original Switch.