Critically-Acclaimed Switch RPG Disappears from Eshop

gamerant.com:

Octopath Traveler has seen an unexpected change to the game's listing on the Nintendo Switch's eShop, currently showing the beloved RPG as «Not Available.» First debuting in 2018 from Final Fantasy developer Square-Enix, the RPG saw critical acclaim following its debut for the interweaving of its eight different stories and its «HD-2D» graphics. The game was first released as a Switch exclusive, later being brought to PC and Xbox and even receiving a sequel in Octopath Traveler 2 last year. Now, however, fans are noticing an odd change to the game's Switch listing.

As the name suggests, one of the main selling points of the Octopath Traveler series comes with its split stories. Both games feature eight different playable characters for players to choose from, with each following their own in-game stories. Progressing through the game will see the different characters eventually meet up with one another, leading all the separate stories to connect for the game's conclusion. Now, however, new fans looking to try out Octopath Traveler's unique method of storytelling are unable to buy the game on the Switch.

As reported by SiliconEra, fans have recently discovered that the Switch listing of Octopath Traveler currently shows the game as «Not Available» for purchase. Despite still showcasing the game's $59.99 USD price tag, the Switch eShop page does not allow new players to buy the game from the digital marketplace. The issue has been confirmed to be exclusive to the Switch eShop, with fans looking to purchase the game on PC and Xbox One still able to do so. Neither Nintendo nor Square-Enix have directly addressed the change to Octopath Traveler's Switch listing.

While the game is currently shown as unavailable, fans are already speculating that the Octopath Traveler change is only temporary. The Switch eShop now notes Square-Enix as the publisher for Octopath Traveler within the game's listing. While Square-Enix developed the RPG and serves as publisher for most versions