Octopath Traveler, the popular turn-based RPG from Square Enix and released exclusively for Nintendo Switch, has been a critical success, but one question that fans may be asking is why is it so pricey?
One of the primary reasons why Octopath Traveler is so expensive compared to some other games is due to the costs associated with its development. The game was co-developed with Acquire and the Square Enix Business Division 11 and took almost 5 years to develop with a reported budget of over $50 million.
Another key factor of why the game is so expensive is due to the attention to detail that goes into making the game visually appealing and its music score. Octopath Traveler features a unique graphical style that combines 8-bit sprites with 3D graphics and is complemented by an original score composed by multiple award winning composer Yasunori Nishiki.
The game also use the custom-built “Octopath Traveler Engine” which is said to run at 60 frames per second and that has taken a lot of time and effort to perfect. The game also uses Square Enix’s proprietary technology called DRM, which has been further developed for Octopath Traveler as well.
It’s easy to see why Octopath Traveler is so expensive, given the attention to detail that has gone into making the game a visually appealing and immersive experience. With the development costs and the custom game engine, plus the use of proprietary technology, Octopath Traveler is undoubtedly one of the most expensive games on the market.
Octopath Traveler is a popular title, and it was released near the end of the Nintendo Switch’s lifetime. This has caused supply chain issues, which have made the game more difficult to find. Additionally, the game is still in high demand from game collectors and fans of the series so availability can be an issue.