Octopath Traveler 2 Release Date, Trailer And Gameplay - What We Know So Far

Square Enix's "Octopath Traveler" is a JRPG for gamers who yearn to return to the retro era. "Octopath Traveler" famously featured HD-2D graphics that combined classic 16-bit sprites with HD environments and effects. This gave the game a modern-day spark while retaining the look and feel of old-school JRPGs.

When "Octopath Traveler" was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, fans raved about the game's throwback art style and gameplay. Eventually, the game was ported to PC and the Xbox One, inviting a new community of players to experience the title. But, apart from a free-to-play mobile prequel released in 2020, Square Enix remained silent on whether there would be a sequel. Recently, that all changed when Square Enix confirmed that an "Octopath Traveler" sequel is officially on the way, and it's coming sooner than many expected.

Here's everything fans need to know about "Octopath Traveler 2," including release date, trailer, and gameplay info.

Fans of the first "Octopath Traveler" will be ecstatic to hear that the sequel already has an official release date. During a Nintendo Direct showcase, Square Enix announced that "Octopath Traveler 2" will release on February 24, 2023. This announcement initially surprised many fans, considering years had passed without any word of whether an "Octopath Traveler 2" would ever materialize. That said, based on the incredible sales of the first game, some fans had long theorized a sequel was in the works.

Unlike the first game, "Octopath Traveler 2" will also make its way to Sony consoles. "Octopath Traveler 2" will be available at launch on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Xbox gamers, unfortunately, are out of luck for the time being. Still, some fans are hopeful that the title will make it to Xbox at a later date. In the meantime, Xbox gamers can still experience the original title for free if they're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber.

"Octopath Traveler 2" has three trailers: an announcement trailer, a launch date trailer, and a brief character trailer. Each trailer gives fans of the series plenty to unpack. For example, the two-minute-long announcement video showcases the series' HD-2D visual style and offers a glimpse at what players can expect.

Both the announcement and launch date trailer show off some of the new characters available to players in "Octopath Traveler 2," though many of the characters shown appear to be archetypes previously featured in the first game. That said, there are still a few exciting new jobs that look like they'll make an appearance in the upcoming sequel (more on those in a bit).

Not only does "Octopath Traveler 2" feature new characters, but the reveal trailer also notes that the sequel is set during a brand new era. Additionally, players can explore every inch of the world of "Octopath Traveler 2," which will be more dynamic thanks to a day and night cycle that alters certain aspects of the map depending on the time of day.

The announcement trailer for "Octopath Traveler 2" showcased how the title will play, revealing further good news for fans. Those with experience with the first game will likely feel right at home, as gameplay in "Octopath Traveler 2" appears very similar to its predecessor. Gamers will find themselves recruiting characters, communicating with townspeople, and collecting items between battles.

Combat in "Octopath Traveler 2" will remain turn-based, much like many other classic JRPGs and the original "Octopath traveler." Like before, players can level up a character's job and skills through combat or other means to give them an edge in battle. Additionally, Square Enix has noted that the Break system (which allows players to exploit an enemy's vulnerability and stun them) and the Boost system (which powers up regular attacks) will both return for the sequel.

Additionally, every character has a unique Latent Power, as showcased in the recent character trailer. These powerful attacks can only be used with a fully charged Latent Gauge, which gets filled after killing enemies or taking damage. One of the examples that has been showcased thus far is Osvald's Latent Power "Concentrate Spells," which intensifies spells used on a single enemy. 

Each character will also have a Path Action, unique forms of interaction with other characters and the world around them. However, Path Actions can change depending on the time of day in "Octopath Traveler 2." According to the Nintendo Store listing, there are other new mechanics in "Octopath Traveler 2" that will be revealed closer to the game's release.

"Octopath Traveler 2" takes place in a brand-new world called Solistia. According to the game's product page, Solistia is "a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea." Where the world Orsterra of "Octopath Traveler" featured a medieval setting, the world of Solistia in "Octopath Traveler 2" is more of a fictional 18th-century industrial setting full of steam-powered machinery. 

Square Enix notes that each character has unique origins and motivations for adventuring. And players are free to explore multiple stories. But how their stories and paths intertwine is unknown. With that in mind, some gamers may wonder if they need to have played the first game to enjoy the story of "Octopath Traveler 2."

From what has been shown so far, "Octopath Traveler 2" features new travelers and is set in a completely different world from the first game, and thus has no connection. So, players that want to dive into the series starting with the sequel won't likely have any trouble picking up the story.

As the title suggests, there are eight main playable characters in "Octopath Traveler 2." These characters, as showcased in the "Octopath Traveler 2" announcement trailer, are Hikari the Warrior, Agnes the Dancer, Partitio the Merchant, Osvald the Scholar, Throne the Thief, Temenos the Cleric, Ochette the Hunter, and Castti the Apothecary. Of course, the origins and adventures each character embark on will be up to players to explore. However, recent character overview trailers gave fans a closer look at two of the playable characters.

For instance, the Osvald and Partitio character trailer introduces the origins of Partitio, the merchant, and Osvald, the Scholar. The trailer explains that after the collapse of Partition's pioneer town, the brave merchant takes it upon themselves to travel the world and make it a better place. And like Partition's, Osvald's origin story is just as tragic. After being falsely sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Osvaldand must bust himself out of prison to reclaim his freedom. And once he does, he will stop at nothing to exact his revenge on those that put him there.

The "Octopath Traveler 2" Collector's Edition Set is available to preorder now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This bundle retails at a whopping $180 but comes with many unique goodies that will wow any "Octopath Traveler" fan. On top of getting a physical copy of "Octopath Traveler 2," players will receive:

Collector's Edition Goods Box, which is a stylish box featuring the game's box art on the front and encases all of the bonus content.

Octopath Traveler 2 Art Album, which is a lengthy art album that features world maps, illustrations, and various game art.

Octopath Traveler 2 Extended Battle Tracks, which is a mini-OST that holds 24 unique variations of Extended Battle Tracks that won't be featured on the game's main soundtrack.

Octopath Traveler 2 Travelers Bust Set, which is a set of bust figures of all eight of the main characters.

Whether the Collector's Edition Set is worth shelling out $180 for will be up to the individual fan. But, from the looks of it, it's impressive when compared to other collector's editions on the market.