Square Enix has announced the release of an Octopath Traveler 2 free demo as part of the latest Nintendo Direct. This presentation was packed full of big announcements for the Nintendo Switch, with Octopath Traveler 2 only receiving a brief amount of time. Square Enix made the most of the opportunity, though. A short trailer was shown not only confirming the demo's release but also introducing Octopath Traveler 2's world and protagonists.
Octopath Traveler 2 is arriving very soon, and unlike the first game in the JRPG series, it's launching not only on Nintendo Switch but also on PC and PlayStation platforms. That perhaps explains why Octopath Traveler 2 received so little time during today's Nintendo Direct. With announcements including a new The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer, the reveal of Metroid Prime Remastered, Professor Layton's return, and other big surprises, Octopath Traveler 2 was simply the smaller showcase of the show.
For those that are excited about Octopath Traveler 2, however, the announcement of the demo is very exciting news. Like previous JRPG demos from Square Enix, Octopath Traveler 2's demo will allow for up to three hours of gameplay from the very start of the game. It's not the full game, however. Travel will be restricted to the game's starting areas, which can be fully explored until the time limit is reached.
The best part about the demo is that players' save files will be able to be carried over to the full release of Octopath Traveler 2. It's only three hours of progress, but it's better than having to play through the same parts of the game twice. Octopath Traveler 2 will automatically detect the save file so long as the demo was played on the same console.
In the new trailer for Octopath Traveler 2, each of the JRPG's protagonists is briefly introduced. A small amount of story is shared for each, as is a brief glimpse at their respective combat abilities. After each character is introduced, the trailer offers a montage of clips from Octopath Traveler 2's story. Without context, these clips aren't significant spoilers, but they do convey the incredible scale of the game's story and world.
Octopath Traveler 2 is set to be one of the most anticipated JRPGs of 2023, and it's arriving in just a couple of weeks. As of this new Nintendo Direct, players can get a taste of the upcoming game early, a tantalizing glimpse that Square Enix hopes will lead to more players picking up the full game at launch. Gamers can check out Octopath Traveler 2's free demo now on the Switch eShop.
Octopath Traveler 2 releases February 24 on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
