Octopath Traveler 0, the latest entry in Square Enix’s turn-based JRPG series, is set to release on December 5, introducing character creation and town building simulation-style gameplay to the franchise for the first time. The title’s origin is somewhat unique, as it’s a brand-new game built on the foundations of a live-service mobile RPG. To get an idea about how much of Octopath Traveler 0 was made from scratch and how the game is structured, AUTOMATON talked to game director Yasuhiro Kidera and producer Hiroto Suzuki.
A console game based on a mobile game designed to feel like a console game
Interestingly, the game Octopath Traveler 0 is based on – Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent – was originally built around the concept of “a mobile game that plays like a console RPG.” Due to its enduring success and high demand from players for a complete, buy-to-play version, Octopath Traveler 0 was born. However, rather than a straightforward port, this new title was essentially made from scratch, as a way to offer something new even to players familiar with the original mobile game.
“In terms of the overall experience, we designed it so that even players who have already cleared Champions of the Continent will find about 50% of the game fresh. Roughly 30 to 40% of the main scenario is completely new, and we’ve restructured it entirely around the concept of ‘you as the protagonist.’ All side quests and party chats were written from scratch, and the voice acting was recorded anew,” Suzuki explains.
The biggest difference, however, is in the battles. While some bosses from the mobile game were reused, Octopath Traveler 0’s level design and most of the enemy roster was rebuilt from the ground up.
A 100-hour game…and that’s if you don’t get carried away with town building
Based on Square Enix’s internal playtests, Octopath Traveler 0 takes about 100 hours to complete. Suzuki says this checks out with his own run. “I focused mostly on the main story and didn’t spend much time on town-building, so it could take even more time for dedicated players.”
Although its rich volume borders on daunting, Suzuki says that Octopath Traveler 0 will, much like past entries, give you a good deal of freedom when it comes to choosing which storylines to advance. “That said, certain stories may require you to complete other events first, so while the freedom is high, the narratives are intricately intertwined.”
Prequel, or a parallel world?
Octopath Traveler 0 is set in Orsterra, the same continent as the series’ first installment, and chronologically, the game is positioned as a direct prequel. However, Suzuki mentions that depending on the choices you make, it can also play out as a parallel timeline.
“In Octopath Traveler 0, you can choose whether or not to recruit characters outside of the main story. For instance, Tressa, one of the protagonists from the first game, appears as a playable character here, but chronologically, she isn’t supposed to have embarked on her journey yet. So, if you do choose to recruit her, the story will diverge from the original; and if you don’t, the continuity remains intact.”
Although it might sound a little confusing, Octopath Traveler 0 essentially starts out as a prequel, but your choices determine how closely it will align with the first game’s timeline.
Octopath Traveler 0 releases on December 5 for PC (Steam/Windows), PS5/PS4, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and Xbox Series X❘S.
