Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent will transition operational control to NetEase in January. This change should be seamless for players, with save data and progress transferring automatically. While reassuring for fans, this move raises questions about Square Enix's future mobile game strategy.
This year has seen numerous mobile game closures, making the continued operation of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent welcome news. However, the decision to outsource to NetEase, following the outsourcing of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile to Tencent's Lightspeed Studios, suggests a potential scaling back of Square Enix's direct mobile game development.
The writing may have been on the wall since 2022, with the closure of Square Enix Montreal, the studio behind successful mobile titles like Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO. While some games will continue, the shift is unfortunate, particularly given the substantial player interest in Square Enix mobile titles, as evidenced by the enthusiastic reception of the Final Fantasy XIV mobile announcement.
The question of Square Enix's mobile future remains. In the meantime, explore our list of the top 25 best Android RPGs to enjoy while awaiting the Octopath Traveler transition.
