Square Enix Unveils New RPG for Switch 2, But No Upgrade Path Available

Earlier this week, fans expressed their frustration when it was revealed that the first two Octopath Traveler games would be making their way to the Nintendo Switch 2 without any upgrade options or save transfers for those who already own them on the original Switch. The situation took a familiar turn on Thursday with the announcement of the Switch 2 port for 2023’s Star Ocean The Second Story R.

Sound familiar? Just like before, there’s no free or paid upgrade option for existing owners, and save files from the original Switch version won’t carry over to the Switch 2. The new edition is priced at $49.99.

Square Enix shared the news about the Star Ocean The Second Story R port through a trailer on its social media channels. Within a day, the posts were inundated with comments from frustrated fans. The top comment on the YouTube trailer simply states: “UPGRADE PATH!!!” while another popular response echoes the sentiment with “No upgrade path, no purchase.”

In addition to the same drawbacks seen with the Octopath Traveler announcement, Square Enix has made another misstep that fans are unhappy about: the Switch 2 version is available only in digital format.

The debate over physical media is heating up, especially with recent news of Sony planning to halt physical game production by 2028. As digital ownership becomes less reliable, players are increasingly valuing the permanence that physical copies provide. This move by Square Enix, consistent with its approach to other Switch 2 ports, further distances itself from dedicated fans who would be willing to pay a small fee for an upgrade.

This announcement comes just days before a special live stream celebrating the 30th anniversary of Star Ocean, scheduled for July 19. However, Square Enix has indicated that there will be no new game announcements during the stream, focusing instead on the series’ history and offering a behind-the-scenes look at its development.

In a rather ironic twist, Square Enix is currently running a promotion on the original Switch version of Star Ocean The Second Story R, offering it at a discount to celebrate the anniversary. If you hurry, you can snag it for $24.99 before the sale wraps up on July 17.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is now available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC.