Octopath Traveler II announced for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC with a release date of February 24, 2023
Square Enix pulled back the curtain on the next entry in the Octopath Traveler series with Octopath Traveler II at today's Nintendo Direct. It is launching on February 24, 2023 for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
The original Octopath Traveler initially launched on July 13, 2018 for Nintendo Switch, and the Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent mobile game was released in October 2020 in Japan and July 2022 globally. Octopath Traveler later came out on PC and Xbox Game Pass, though it was never released on a PlayStation system.
Octopath Traveler II will be using the HD-2D art style that its predecessor initiated. It introduces eight new main characters - Hikari the Warrior, Agnea the Dancer, Partitio the Merchant, Osvald the Scholar, Throné the Thief, Temenos the Cleric, Ochette the Hunter, and Castti the Apothecary. Their starting jobs are identical to the ones found in the first Octopath Traveler game.
Each protagonist has their own distinct starting location once again, with their own stories to follow. This time, Octopath Traveler II will exhibit "additional stories [that] unfold between the protagonists as their journey progresses, further intertwining their narrratives" that may address some issues from the first game. Path Actions make a return too, which allows players to interact with NPCs in a variety of ways, such as dueling them or making them follow the party.
The series' Break & Boost combat system will be in Octopath Traveler II and a new feature will allow players to unleash a devastating ability once a character's ability gauge is full. Plus, there'll be a day/night cycle now.
Watch the announcement trailer for Octopath Traveler II down below, along with a description and its first screenshots. Square Enix has additionally detailed the game on its public blog.
During today’s Nintendo Direct, Square Enix announced Octopath Traveler II, the next entry in the critically acclaimed Octopath Traveler RPG series, and revealed it will launch worldwide, simultaneously on the Nintendo Switch system, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) console, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) console and PC via Steam on February 24, 2023.
In Octopath Traveler II, players will embark on an exciting journey through the brand-new world of Solistia. Developed by the same team behind the beloved original, which has sold over three million copies worldwide, this installment improves upon the series' iconic HD-2D visuals: a striking blend of retro 2D characters in a beautiful 3D world. The game's new storyline, characters and features make it the perfect entry for newcomers to the series, while also preserving the charm of the original game for veteran players. Players can look forward to following the journey of eight distinct protagonists as they explore the land and conquer enemies in strategic turn-based battles on an adventure all their own.
New and returning gameplay features and elements include:
- Break & Boost Battle System – Players must act strategically to exploit enemy weaknesses to “Break” them in order to inflict more damage, and “Boost” their travelers to enhance their abilities.
- Path Actions – Players can interact with NPCs throughout the world in various ways by using actions unique to each character. Path Actions will vary depending on the protagonist and whether it is day or night.
- Brand-New Story and Characters – Players can embark on a grand adventure in the new land of Solistia and experience the intertwined stories of eight new travelers: Hikari (Warrior), Agnea (Dancer), Partitio (Merchant), Osvald (Scholar), Throné (Thief), Temenos (Cleric), Ochette (Hunter), and Castti (Apothecary).
- Day/Night Cycle – The townscapes and Path Actions available to each character will change depending on if it is night or day, creating more opportunities for exploration and discovery.
- Latent Power – A new battle element in which characters can unleash a powerful ability once the ability’s gauge fills up during combat.
- Crossed Paths – Additional stories will unfold between the protagonists as their journey progresses, further intertwining their narratives.
Octopath Traveler II is available to pre-order now in a Standard Digital Edition for PS5 & PS4 and a Standard Physical Edition for PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. PC via Steam pre-orders will begin on September 14th at 5pm BST/6pm CEST.Standard Digital Edition pre-orders for Nintendo Switch will begin at a later date. A physical Collector’s Edition Set is also available to pre-order now for PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch exclusively via the Square Enix Store.
The physical Collector’s Edition Set includes the following:
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER II Standard Edition Game
- OCTOPATH TRAVLER II Travelers Bust Set: bust figurines of the eight protagonists
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER II ART ALBUM: 44-page art book
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER II –Extended Battle Tracks–: mini soundtrack CD
By pre-ordering the Digital Standard Edition, players can receive the “Travel Provisions” DLC pack, which contains the below consumable items to help players along their journey.
- Healing Grape (M) x 5
- Inspiriting Plum (M) x 5
- Revitalizing Jam x 2
- Gold Dust (can be sold for 5,000 leaves in game) x 1
Octopath Traveler II will be available on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC via STEAM on February 24, 2023.
