Switch-exclusive Octopath Traveler has now shipped one million copies worldwide, making the game one of the best-selling titles on the system.
The turn-based RPG has only been around for three weeks, releasing worldwide on 13th July, so this milestone has been reached incredibly quickly for a game that many would consider to be a rather niche title. Nintendo has shared the news on Twitter, stating that the developers at Square Enix would like to thank fans and customers for making this possible
In some ways, this actually comes as little surprise; we've been hearing multiple stories of the game completely selling out in Japan, and it even managed to secure a number three spot in the UK charts in its first week. It's pretty safe to say that its performing just as well, if not much better, than originally expected - which is obviously great news indeed.
Are you one of the many people who has bought Octopath Traveler? Have you been thinking about picking up a copy? Let us know down below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 88
On the road least traveled to 8 million.
We pre-ordered the special edition and have been loving it so far. Hopefully this will mean more exclusives from Square Enix! Would love it if we got Bravely Default and Second ports to the Switch so I can introduce the series to my other half, she has little time for gaming so doesn't want to spend it on a little 3DS screen which is fair enough
I'm loving this game. One of the best JRPG's I've ever played and the mix of retro style graphics with modern effects is brilliant. Great battle system too, better then Bravely Defaults in my opinion. It deserves to be a million seller.
We can all look forward to the inevitable sequel a few years from now where they build on the mechanics and address the only real criticism of the game, which is the lack of meaningful interaction between the characters.
Congratulations SE. The Switch really is bringing back vibes of the SNES days.
(Oh, don't forget about localising the Mana collection!)
Also really shows third party developers that, like Mario + Rabbits, if they make the effort to develop an exclusive that really plays to the Switch’s strengths, people will support them and buy it in huge numbers. Fewer lazy ports, more original AAA exclusives.
This bodes very well indeed for better Square Enix RPG support on the Switch.
I'd love to see a Bravely Default/Second collection and then Bravely third, as well as some older Final Fantasy games on there.
@Nomad said " One of the best JRPG's I've ever played "
Wow, you had to play only a few number of JRPGs in your life to say something like that...
Because, even if I really enjoyed the game, there are dozens and dozens really better than Octopath Traveler.
I'd prefer if they apologised for 3rd time.
@Cobalt
Wow, you had to have another opinion to say something like that...
I myself grew up destroying RPGs left and right since the early 1990s and second the notion that Octopath Traveler is one of the finest in the genre. Not perfect, but I don’t care.
@Cobalt Or maybe he just has different opinions to you.
JRPGmachine-Switch is gonna happen y'all
Square Enix start porting over the Final Fantasies challenge
Nintendo, this is how you market a game, please take note
@Cobalt Mate, come off your high horse for a bloody second. Congratulate their accomplishment. Don't use it as a pedestal to proclaim your superior opinion on what constitutes a good game. You are what is known as a 'kill-joy.' This thread is the wrong place to feel aggrieved in some weird way.
Interesting how it managed to beat Bravely Default in sales despite being available on a system with a much smaller install base. Promoting it through Nintendo Directs with two demo versions paid off.
This is not necessarily the type of game I would buy, but with the lack of big physical releases on the Switch I did buy a copy yesterday.
And its much like the reviews said. It starts off slow and will pick up after about 10 hours into the game, so I have 6 hours to go.
My main gripe with games like this is the vast amount dialogue, most of which is written in a childish way and a totally silly story. Grinding seems fun compared to reading the dialogue.
All that said, the gameplay is good and levelling my character is getting quite addictive and the graphics are for the most part good, although a few more pixels could have been used to make the characters a bit more visual.
@Cobalt I too have played a lot of jrpg’s and honestly it’s pretty high up their on my list. It’s totally fine for someone to say octopath traveler is one of their favorites.
Great news. I won't be getting it for a while, but will do eventually and it's great to see well made exclusives doing well.
Awesome news and well deserved!
I'll get the game next year. Both the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 DLC and Valkyria Chronicles 4 are coming out next month. That combined with me still needing to 100% Zelda is plenty to keep me busy this year ^^
Next year is looking very light on the RPG front outside of Fire Emblem, no I do not think DQXI will make it next year, so this and Indivisible will do nicely to fill that year for me ^_^
The audience is there. Square should consider bringing some other popular RPGs to the system, Kingdom Hearts would be lovely!
Not bad at all.
This is my game of the year. Im loving it
Incredible news
I am very much enjoying this game but like @Roarsome said, the lack of character interactions (one if my fave parts of JRPGs) is lacking. Still can’t stop going back to it. Only issue is real life is really limiting my play time with only 12 hrs so far.
Makes me think about wheb Square Enix was genuinly surprised that Bravely Default sold well in the west (the type of game that basically made the company successful). Although if Nintendo still publishes it then I wonder if they have learnt?
I love this game love the graphics and the different characters are great been stuck on a boss tho for a few days now but I’m determined to complete the game
That's great news!
I'm really enjoying Octopath Traveller. The gameplay hits that sweet spot where it's rich and engaging without getting too overly complex. The graphic style they chose looks even better in motion and the music is fantastic.
And I for one am grateful that the different stories don't mix. In these days, where seemingly every movie has to end with a stinger, every novel has to be part of a saga and every work of fiction has to belong to a needlessly convoluted "bigger narrative", to have these eight character's stories be independent from one another is a welcome change of pace. The rest of the characters are just spectators, with only a few optional comments to offer, and that's definitely fine by me.
Glad they reveal that eShop sales are included in the figure. Or my brain would be annoyed about that.
I feel this is great news for SE support, but also slightly worrying because this retro style might be the only style SE does on Switch. Not saying that's bad, just that we may not see another polygon based, big production RPG like Final Fantasy at this point... at least for those looking for that type of experience. I'm fine either way and look forward to future projects from them.
@GrailUK I think he gets off on derailing conversations. I liked the demo of this, but I just don't have the time to devote to a game like that.
@MeloMan SE is putting Dragon Quest 11 on the Switch someday, maybe 2022 or so. Then DQ Builders 2. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see Kingdom Hearts also.
Wow, awesome news! SE must be really happy about its performance.
I guess Square will be making more niche RPGs in the near future.
The premise reminds me a bit of Live-A-Live, I wonder if that was their inspiration. Now that's an underappreciated JRPG, probably because it didn't have a western release IIRC (though it did include a Western chapter ).
@link12684
I read again my message and I understand how bad it could be taken. Sorry for that !
And you're right, even if somebody would claim that "I am Setsuna" is the best RPG ever, it would be his choice... a really strange choice for me but still his own choice... ^^
Man Square Enix been on fire with the Rpgs. Now if only we can Kingdom Hearts 3 on Switch.
Also A Bravely Series HD remaster with a new game in the works
Good news as I want all RPG possible on switch. As for OT even though I finished all the chapters I can't say this is a very memorable game as story wise is not compelling (also the way they deal with the true end is very very poor and has me not wanting to go back for a while)
Well deserved too, I was sceptical when purchasing this title having not played the demos but it definitely exceeded all of my expectations. 45 hours in the game at the moment and still an incredible amount of content to go through still.
Definitely biding the time over until MH hits the Switch and even then, MH might not be able to pull me away from this gem.
@GraveLordXD said "I think I've played nearly every jrpg out there"
You mean nearly every Switch JRPGs ? Or you mean nearly every JRPGs that exist ? lol
@GraveLordXD
So,
Suikoden
Suikoden 2
FF VI
Chrono Cross
Walkyie Profile
FF Tactics
Xenoblade X
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Chrono Trigger
Lunar
Phantasy Star serie
Lufia 2
Xenogears
Baiten Kaitos
Xenoblade Chronicles
Vagrant Story
Grandia
Skies of Arcadia
Tactics Ogre serie
Golden sun
Baten Kaitos Origins
etc..etc...
All of them are "boxing" in the same category as Octopath Traveler from your perspective ? Wow... I'm speechless o_O
@Cobalt I was born in he 80's and have been playing jrpg's since NES days definitely one of the best jrpg's ever made. The level of polish, excellent combat system and superb writing far outweighs any graphical complaints people might have. Although personally I think it looks gorgeous.
@MaSSiVeRiCaN
I was born in the 70's and have been playing games since 1980 and jrpgs since NES days too... ^^
Octopath is a good game, no complain about that but gosh it's far from legendary !
Now Mana collection, please!
Glad to hear the game got the sales it deserved. I still have yet to play much of it as I'm trudging along in Hollow Knight and I haven't had much time to play games the past few weeks. Hopefully that improves over the next couple of weeks.
Great to hear!
Brilliant more JRPG's please
The best RPG of all time is Adventure on Atari 2600.
As I get older and my adrenalin glands burn out and shrivel up playing Splatoon 2 at X rank - I can look forward to retiring to a huge, fantastic Library of JRPGS on 3ds andSwitch!
How cool is that?
Bravely Default reached 1 million copies shipped in July 2014 (21 months after its initial launch in Japan, 8 months after its launch in Europe/Australia, and 5 months after its launch in America).
Octopath Traveler reached 1 million copies shipped in just 3 weeks. The game should be a 2 million seller by the end of the year.
@Cobalt they said "ONE of the best". Chill.
@Bunkerneath Nintendo did market this game. Clearly they did it well.
@HatosBlack
This is my point ! ONE of THE BEST !
It means that it's part of the best ! Objectively, it's not the case.
It's a good game, that's clear but it's far from the BEST JRPGs...
Otherwise, we consider that THE BEST JRPGs are counted by 200 for example. Yeah in that case, every potential game is ONE of THE BEST.
Good to see a 3rd party at full price sell well.
Now maybe other publishers (cough, capcom, cough) will try harder on Switch
@Cobalt I don't think that's their point, no one said the game is legendary by all means but is an impressive achievement and is a good sign for future turn based JRPGs, it makes the companies see these kinds of games has an audience and can sell very well if done right and given enough support.
@Cobalt The problem with your point is that your trying to act as if your personal opinion (that this game doesn't belong among the best in the genre) is an objective fact. Which it isn't. It's just your opinion, which isn't any more or less valid than the opinion of anyone who thinks that Octopath does indeed belong among the best in the genre.
So please, stop pretending that you are stating an objective fact, when you are just stating your opinion.
Yes, great game indeed!
@Agramonte I’m just curious, why do you say Capcom hasn’t been trying with the Switch? Recently, they have brought or will bring Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, the Mega Man collections, Okami HD, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and they’ll release Mega Man 11 as a day-and-date multiplat in October. It’s not amazing, but it’s much better than some other publishers have done on Switch. Again, I don’t want to argue with you, I’m just curious.
they way square has been shipping to japan, initial shipment is what they want to sell before they turn a profit.
we can be sure to expect more games from square from now on.
This more than has to convince Square Enix to put more muscle behind Switch games at this point. I wouldn't mind a few ports of some of their previous high-quality efforts either.
I never imagined a niche "hardcore" menu-driven turn based JRPG released exclusively on a Nintendo platform with a retro art style would be a 3-week million+ seller, and breezing past tons of billion dollar budget AAA titles. Perhaps there is hope for humanity.
@Kochambra
Ok, so explain me if Suikoden 2 or Chrono Cross or FF VI are part of the best JRPGs ever ?
Octopath Traveler as good as it is has too much flaws to be part of the best JRPGs... This is objective, not subjective.
@Cobalt I think you should look up the definition of subjective and objective
It's such a fantastic game. I haven't played anything else and I'm only two stories in. I am so glad the team that made this game is now the switch team over at squeenix.
you see if more fans support games like that 3rd parties has to notice more. they need to stop underestimating the switch and Nintendo fans. They need to have some guts and put some more games out. the indie people was brave enough to put their games out on the switch, and most of the games did very well, even beating out some other platforms.
@GraveLordXD said "Octopath for me is better than most of those games"
Oh MY GOODNESS ! o_O
So,
Octopath better than Suikoden 2 ?
Octopath better than Panzer Dragoon Saga ?
Octopath better than Valkyrie Profile ?
Wow, I respect your taste but I definitely not share it all ! o_O
@FlimFlam That is a valid question. Those are all budget games ports (I gone on record here what I think about MHGU at full price),... they still looking how to make a buck with as little effort or risk.
Other publishers are actually spending the time and money making new games at this point (on top of the ports). Even Ubisoft and EA risk making new games and Engines for Switch on year 1
Yeah, I give them MegaMan 11. I have it on preorder for Switch - hopefully that will sell well and motivate them to bring a big game to the table. Announce a new OKAMI or do a real Upgrade to MHGU like they doing to RE2 on PS4.
Octopath Traveler is the king of JRPGS and this level of success will ensure lots of Japanese games.
@GraveLordXD
I think that's insane but yeah, you have the right to think like that !
If Nintendo ever does Player's Choice again for Switch I could see Octopath Traveler and Sonic Mania Plus as great candidates in the lineup alongside Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Galaxy, and the upcoming Pokemon games but knowing how greedy Nintendo is sometimes they probably may wait on that. A title whether 1st or 3rd party had to sell over 1 million physical copies to get the Player's Choice or Nintendo Select status.
I am so happy! Hopefully this means we’ll be getting a second one. I only have to finish up 2 more stories and I’ll be finished. It sucks to almost be done with Octopath but I loved every bit of it.
@Cobalt
You need to be more respectful of others opinions if you want the same in return. You also need to understand that your opinion is not the objective truth. It is subjective.
@electrolite77
I quote myself : "Wow, I respect your taste but I definitely not share it all ! o_O"
Is it not respectful ?
@Agramonte Ah, I see what you mean now. That’s a very fair point. Thanks for clarifying.
@FX102A the lack of interaction isn’t bothering me. I’m seeing it as eight independent stories. Yeah they fight alongside each other and there’s no real narrative reason for them to do so, but it makes the gameplay much more fun than if they were just on their own so who cares.
The eight short stories split into chapters make it perfect for handheld and docked play. Like Zelda’s Shrines and Odyssey’s Moons, the developers have thought hard about how to make it really well-suited to the Switch.
@Cobalt
Throwing in a little disclaimer like that is inadequate after posting things like
“Oh MY GOODNESS ! o_O”
“Octopath Traveler as good as it is has too much flaws to be part of the best JRPGs... This is objective, not subjective.”
“It means that it's part of the best ! Objectively, it's not the case.
It's a good game, that's clear but it's far from the BEST JRPGs...”
“Wow, you had to play only a few number of JRPGs in your life to say something like that...”
“All of them are "boxing" in the same category as Octopath Traveler from your perspective ? Wow... I'm speechless o_O”
@Cobalt I'm sure you can find people to argue that Chrono Cross doesn't even deserve to live in the shadow of Chrono Trigger, or that FF VI is just a rough sketch of what Square would actually achieve with FF VII and later games in the series.
But actually, you game me a better example in your list: Xenoblade Chronicles X. That's one of my favorite RPGs of this decade, but I know that plenty of people wouldn't agree.
One of the most common complaints leveled against the game is how the main quest takes a back seat leaving the main focus of the gameplay on exploration and most of the storytelling relegated to optional sidequests. Is that a flaw, though? Many people are of the opinion that it is indeed a flaw and it spoils the game for them. I personally like the choice the developers made, and I actually tend to enjoy this kind low key main quest more than the self important, cut scene heavy storytelling that so many RPGs seem to favor.
So, is XBX's main quest a flaw in that game? It isn't in my opinion, but other people think it is. We can argue why we think what we think, but no one is "objectively right".
Back to Octopath Traveler, many people seem to find disappointing the fact that the eight character's stories don't converge into a single epic story at the end. Fair enough, but I actually like that they don't converge. They have their subjective opinion and I have mine, but there is no "objective truth" in this matter.
I placed my order last night.
@Kochambra
Man, I'm really happy to read what you have written.
XENOBLADE X is my favorite RPG of this decade too
The system they put in place for the story is genius ! Espacially when you know how the game is built. This is the best way to make a balance between the core gameplay, the open world and the story.
To enjoy what Xenoblade X offers, you have no choice than to understand the structure of it.
Xenoblade X is a masterpiece from my perspective. Even the music which is a flaw for some people, is absolutely fantastic because the compositions in itself are great but the key point is the risk taking for me. They have tried something new, something unique, something memorable and it's just awesome.
Now, about Octopath Traveler, the game follows a systematic scheme during the entire game. Village > little cutscene > dungeon > boss > new village > little cutscene > dungeon > boss etc...
Really too scholar to be considered as good from my perspective.
Some scenarios are really not good, Tressa is the perfect example...
The beautiful map is not well thought at all, the menus are a little "clumsy", compulsory farming because some absurd level requirement, technically 720p/30fps docked for what is on the screen they could optimise better I think.
So yeah, a good game without any doubt but there are flaws that anyone can check and verify...
PS : the music is awesome BTW
I had like 15 games in regular rotation before I grabbed Octopath. Now it's practically the only Switch game I play. I've been hungry for a handheld RPG and this one fits the bill better than the other offerings I've tried...though admittedly that's not many, not on Switch anyway.
@Dualmask In the same boat. I should be playing Taiko but nope, moar Octopath.
Almost finished with Octopath and I'm very much looking forward to a sequel! (Nonapath? Nonopath?)
@Matthew010
Exactly. People like that are sold freaking annoying. Not only is it stupid to ASSume that the person hasn't had a lot of rpg experience, but then to act like their opinion is even remotely more valid than the person who's enjoying themselves is pretty condescending & belittling. I understand that you may not agree or don't like what they like, but they're talking about their experiences and not your own.
With due respect, they didn't ask how YOU felt. So really who are you & why should your opinion even be considered when nobody asked & they're talking about their own experiences? I have to remind people like this sometimes that my world nor any other revolves around them.
@Cobalt Nope, Ive played dozens of them over the years. Not just the well know Final Fantasies and Dragon quests either. Games and series like Suikoden, Wild Arms, Phantast Star, Mana, .Hack, too many. 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit and so on, heaps. And that's just straight up JRPG's, not counting action RPG's like Alundra or Stategy RPG's like Shining force. Thing is, even though they are great games, not all of them have aged that well and nostalgia makes a lot of them seem better then they are. And I think you will find Octopath Traveller will be a classic along side the best of them too one day.
Where I stay there still is no physical copies, had to download it.
@GraveLordXD
Yeah, No DraQue on my list ! Dunno exactly why because I typed games name that came spontaneously and the firsts that came were those... ^^
So...
SquareEnix can consider FF XII The Zodiac Age, FF X/X-2 HD, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 HD , World of Final Fantasy on Nintendo Switch.
It will PRINT Money.
@Anti-Matter
Espacially FF XII and World of Final Fantasy, two awesome games !
@GraveLordXD
They are a part of my favorite ones, I forgot several on that list such as Wild Arms for example...
Great game. I'm definitely enjoying it so far. This is exactly what I was looking for after playing Xenoblade. I loved Bravely default as well and play both 1 and 2 though I never finished either of them .
Its great when a new game does something different and does well. I am yet to pick this game up. Maybe after Valkyria Chronicles 4.
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