Square Enix announced Switch 2 versions for Octopath Traveler 1 and 2 recently, and now Star Ocean: The Second Story R is joining the party. As exciting as that is, though, Square Enix is repeating the same controversial decision it did with the Octopath Traveler Switch 2 versions and opting out of an upgrade for Star Ocean: The Second Story R fans who already own it on the older console. Nintendo’s upgrade packs have helped original Switch players transition to the newer platform, but Square Enix is foregoing this route with some of its select games.
The announcement of the Octopath Traveler 1 and 2 Switch 2 versions was definitely exciting for fans who have been waiting to experience the game with better visuals, but the lack of an upgrade pack has been a disappointing revelation. No Switch 2 upgrade for Octopath Traveler means that players who really want to play the game on their newer consoles will have to pay full price for the game all over again, and Star Ocean: The Second Story R fans are unfortunately now in the same boat.
Square Enix Not Upgrading Star Ocean: The Second Story R Feels Like the Beginning of a Pattern
When Octopath Traveler for the Switch 2 was announced, I had hoped that maybe the lack of upgrade packs was a one-off thing for Square Enix. It looks like that hope is being squashed, though. Star Ocean: The Second Story R is one of the best Square Enix games out there, and plenty of fans probably already own it on the original Switch. Offering an upgrade pack to the gamers who already own it on the last-gen console just seems like the obvious decision, but Square Enix’s choice to only release the Switch 2 version at full price is confusing.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
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There are a lot of free Switch 2 upgrade packs out there, but Square Enix wouldn’t necessarily have to go the free route to make fans happy. A lot of upgrades still cost around $5 to $10 on average. Several upgrades for first-party Nintendo Switch games, like Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, are priced at the $20 mark, but that’s still a much better deal than the $50 that Square Enix is asking for Star Ocean: The Second Story R.
Square Enix Has Offered Upgrade Packs Before, So It Makes the Octopath Traveler and Star Ocean Situation Even Stranger
Square Enix games like Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven have all received the Switch 2 upgrade treatment. The first two were offered as free upgrades, while Romancing SaGa 2 was priced at a fairly reasonable $9.99. If these games can be upgraded, then one would assume that the first two Octopath Traveler games and Star Ocean: The Second Story R would be able to go the same route as well.
This New Trend of Square Enix Foregoing Switch 2 Upgrade Packs Isn’t Just Hurting Fans
Fans of the Octopath Traveler games and Star Ocean: The Second Story R are undoubtedly getting the short end of the stick in this situation, but Square Enix is also doing a disservice to itself, too. There are going to be fans who decide to purchase the Switch 2 version of Star Ocean: The Second Story R, but there are also bound to be plenty of players who simply stay loyal to the original Switch version in order to avoid paying $50 for a game they already have.
The Octopath Travel 1 and 2 Switch 2 versions can be purchased separately for $60 or as a digital bundle for $75.
Square Enix could still make a solid profit from Switch 2 upgrades in addition to full-priced versions of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. So, it isn’t just a missed opportunity when it comes to servicing the fans. It’s also a pretty big missed opportunity when it comes to Star Ocean: The Second Story R‘s Switch 2 player numbers. Offering both options incentivizes Switch version owners to opt into the upgrade, and newcomers who don’t own the older iteration of the game can be the ones to buy the full-priced copy.
Square Enix’s New Switch 2 Method Is Hopefully Short-Lived
It remains unclear exactly why Square Enix has done this with Octopath Traveler and Star Ocean: The Second Story R when the company had allowed Switch 2 upgrades in the past. Of course, die-hard fans are still going to buy it, but giving them a solid discount via an upgrade is a far more consumer-friendly practice. The price of video games is continuing to be a strain on a lot of gamers’ budgets, and the Switch 2 upgrade system has been a fantastic way to help fans get the Switch 2 experience without fully breaking the bank.
Since Octopath Traveler 1 and 2 and Star Ocean: The Second Story R‘s Switch 2 version don’t have upgrades, that also means players can’t transfer saved data. So, even if a player has put hours into these games, the Switch 2 version will require them to start from scratch.
There’s no telling if Square Enix will continue to opt out of Switch 2 upgrades with future releases, but it’s looking like that might be the case. This is hopefully just a short-lived experiment, but only time will tell. A lot of games that are even more popular than Octopath Traveler and Star Ocean: The Second Story R have made room for upgrade packs, so the biggest question that is left unanswered is why Square Enix chose to single out these specific games and make them full-priced.
Regardless, Star Ocean: The Second Story R coming to the Switch 2 is at least good news for the gamers who have been interested in checking out the game without having owned it on the last-gen console. It’s a great addition to the Switch 2 games list, but Square Enix may need to rethink how it goes about its Switch 2 releases that can easily be upgraded from their past Switch versions.
- Released
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November 2, 2023
- ESRB
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T
- Developer(s)
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Gemdrops, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
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Square Enix
