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

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent's operations are transferring to NetEase in January. This transition will reportedly be seamless, with save data and progress carrying over. While fans can breathe a sigh of relief, the move raises questions about Square Enix's future mobile game strategy.

This news follows the recent announcement of 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 partnership, suggests a potential shift away from direct mobile game development for Square Enix.

The writing may have been on the wall since 2022, when Square Enix Montreal, the studio behind Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO, was closed. While the survival of titles like Octopath Traveler is positive, the outsourcing trend is still concerning, especially given the clear demand for Square Enix games on mobile platforms, as evidenced by the significant interest in the FFXIV mobile port.

The future of Square Enix's mobile ambitions remains uncertain. However, in the meantime, players looking for similar high-quality RPG experiences can explore our list of the top 25 best RPGs for Android.