Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent will see Square Enix transfer operations to NetEase

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent's operation will transition to NetEase in January. This change, however, shouldn't significantly impact players, as save data and progress will transfer seamlessly. While fans can breathe a sigh of relief, the move raises questions about Square Enix's future mobile game strategy.

This year has seen numerous mobile game closures, making the continued operation of this popular spin-off welcome news. However, Square Enix's decision to outsource to NetEase, following a similar move with the upcoming Final Fantasy XIV mobile version (handled by Tencent's Lightspeed Studios), suggests a potential scaling back of their mobile game development efforts.

The writing may have been on the wall since 2022, when Square Enix Montreal, the studio behind successful mobile titles like Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO, was shut down. Although some games will continue, this strategic shift is still disappointing, particularly considering the substantial interest in mobile versions of Square Enix titles, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response to the FFXIV mobile announcement.

While the future of Square Enix's mobile presence remains uncertain, players awaiting the transition can explore our curated list of top Android RPGs in the meantime.