Highlights

  • Octopath Traveler quietly disappears from the Switch eShop, with the marketplace showing the game as "Not Available" for purchase.
  • Fans have speculated that the change may be due to a shift in publisher, with Square-Enix now assuming the role of publisher for the Switch version.
  • The issue is only present on the Switch version of the game, with fans still able to buy Octopath Traveler on PC and Xbox.

Octopath Traveler has seen an unexpected change to the game's listing on the Nintendo Switch's eShop, currently showing the beloved RPG as "Not Available." First debuting in 2018 from Final Fantasy developer Square-Enix, the RPG saw critical acclaim following its debut for the interweaving of its eight different stories and its "HD-2D" graphics. The game was first released as a Switch exclusive, later being brought to PC and Xbox and even receiving a sequel in Octopath Traveler 2 last year. Now, however, fans are noticing an odd change to the game's Switch listing.

As the name suggests, one of the main selling points of the Octopath Traveler series comes with its split stories. Both games feature eight different playable characters for players to choose from, with each following their own in-game stories. Progressing through the game will see the different characters eventually meet up with one another, leading all the separate stories to connect for the game's conclusion. Now, however, new fans looking to try out Octopath Traveler's unique method of storytelling are unable to buy the game on the Switch.

kadokawa acquires acquire subsidiary fromsoftware dark souls octopath traveler 1
Related
Dark Souls Studio Parent Company Acquires Octopath Traveler Developer

Japanese media giant Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of FromSoftware, turns Octopath Traveler co-developer Acquire into a subsidiary.

Octopath Traveler Quietly Disappears from Switch eShop

As reported by SiliconEra, fans have recently discovered that the Switch listing of Octopath Traveler currently shows the game as "Not Available" for purchase. Despite still showcasing the game's $59.99 USD price tag, the Switch eShop page does not allow new players to buy the game from the digital marketplace. The issue has been confirmed to be exclusive to the Switch eShop, with fans looking to purchase the game on PC and Xbox One still able to do so. Neither Nintendo nor Square-Enix have directly addressed the change to Octopath Traveler's Switch listing.

While the game is currently shown as unavailable, fans are already speculating that the Octopath Traveler change is only temporary. The Switch eShop now notes Square-Enix as the publisher for Octopath Traveler within the game's listing. While Square-Enix developed the RPG and serves as publisher for most versions of the game, the Switch version of Octopath Traveler was originally published by Nintendo for regions outside of Japan. Fans have suggested that the surprise delisting of the game may be a result of the change in publishers, with Octopath Traveler likely coming back at a later date.

The new change to the Switch listing for Octopath Traveler comes following a successful launch for its sequel in Octopath Traveler 2. Following the game's debut in February 2023, Octopath Traveler 2 would report selling 1 million units by June of that year. Square-Enix would also announce Octopath Traveler 2's upcoming release on Xbox consoles in October, with the sequel expected to debut on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in early 2024. Fans can rest easy as the unexpected change to Octopath Traveler's status on Switch should only be temporary.