Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent's operations are transferring to NetEase in January. This transition will include the transfer of save data and player progress, minimizing disruption for players. While this news is positive for fans, it raises questions about Square Enix's future mobile game strategy.
The move follows a trend. Earlier this year, Square Enix announced a mobile version of Final Fantasy XIV, a project facilitated by Tencent's Lightspeed Studios. The outsourcing of Octopath Traveler's operations to NetEase, coupled with the FFXIV mobile collaboration, suggests a potential scaling back of Square Enix's direct involvement in the mobile gaming market.
This shift may not be entirely surprising. The 2022 closure of Square Enix Montreal, the studio behind successful mobile titles like Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO, hinted at a potential reevaluation of their mobile ambitions. While existing games like Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent are finding ways to continue, the overall strategy shift is noteworthy, particularly considering the strong player interest in mobile ports of popular Square Enix franchises, as evidenced by the anticipation surrounding FFXIV Mobile.
The future of Square Enix's mobile presence remains uncertain. However, players can explore other excellent RPGs on Android while awaiting the transition of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent.
