Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is transitioning operational management to NetEase, effective January 2024. This change, however, shouldn't significantly impact players, as the transfer will include save data and progress.
While this news is reassuring for fans, it raises questions about Square Enix's overall mobile gaming strategy. The recent outsourcing of Octopath Traveler's operations, coupled with the reliance on Tencent's subsidiary, Lightspeed Studios, for the Final Fantasy XIV mobile port, suggests a potential scaling back of their mobile ambitions.
This trend might have been foreshadowed as early as 2022 with the closure of Square Enix Montreal, the studio behind successful mobile titles like Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO. Although some existing mobile games will continue, the shift is still regrettable, particularly given the evident demand for Square Enix titles on mobile platforms, as highlighted by the substantial interest in the FFXIV mobile release.
The future of Square Enix's mobile presence remains uncertain. In the meantime, players seeking similar high-quality RPG experiences can explore our curated list of the top 25 best Android RPGs.
