Octopath Traveler temporarily removed from Nintendo eShop in various countries
The popular HD-2D RPG game “Octopath Traveler,” developed by Square Enix and Acquire, has been temporarily removed from the Nintendo eShop in various countries. Speculation by foreign media suggests that the reason for this removal is a change in distribution rights.
Initially, the distribution rights for Octopath Traveler were held by Nintendo when the game was first launched. However, these rights expired in December of last year, leading to the need for them to be returned to Square Enix. This change in distribution rights could potentially pave the way for the game to be released on other console platforms such as PlayStation in the future.
Furthermore, it was announced in February of this year that Acquire, one of the developers behind Octopath Traveler, has been fully acquired by Kadokawa. Acquire, known for other IPs such as “Tenchu,” “Samurai,” and “Akihabara Journey,” will now be affiliated with Kadokawa’s game development companies, similar to From Software of “Elden Ring.”
While there is currently no confirmed date for the re-release of Octopath Traveler on the Nintendo eShop, this change in distribution rights and acquisition by Kadokawa could signal new opportunities for the game and its developers in the future. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see what developments arise from this situation.