Star Ocean: The Second Story R launches on Nintendo Switch 2

Star Ocean: The Second Story R, the acclaimed 2023 remake of the beloved PlayStation RPG, has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 without prior announcement. The release is tied to the Star Ocean series celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the game is available on the eShop for $49.99.

A Quiet Drop From Square Enix

The Switch 2 version appeared out of nowhere on the Nintendo eShop, continuing a pattern of surprise Square Enix releases for the platform. Publisher Square Enix and developer Gemdrops developed the original remake, which first launched across multiple platforms in November 2023.

Square Enix has not shared details about any specific enhancements or improvements in the Switch 2 version. The store description does not make enhancements immediately clear, though the game should at least offer a higher resolution on Nintendo Switch 2.

No Upgrade Path, No Save Transfer

Existing Switch owners hoping to carry their progress over will be disappointed. Like Octopath Traveler 1 & 2 earlier this week, there is no upgrade pathway for the existing Switch version, and save data will not carry over. Nintendo’s official store page confirms the Switch 2 version is only compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 and cannot be played on the original Nintendo Switch – buyers are urged to select the correct version carefully.

This follows an increasingly familiar pattern. As with other Square Enix games available on both Switch consoles, there is no upgrade path – owners of the original Switch version must pay full price again and start with a fresh save file.

What Is The Second Story R?

Star Ocean: The Second Story R was developed by Gemdrops and originally released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows on November 2, 2023. The original Star Ocean: The Second Story was developed by tri-Ace and published for the PlayStation.

The remake uses a distinctive 2.5D visual style and features dual protagonists. Players begin their journey as either Claude or Rena – depending on that choice, story perspectives and recruitable allies change throughout the game, and the Private Actions system lets players grow relationships and unlock various endings.

The game features fully voiced event scenes with the original voice cast, a newly arranged soundtrack by original composer Motoi Sakuraba with new songs including some recorded with a live band, and new Break and Assault Action combat mechanics.

Here is a quick comparison of the versions available:

Should You Buy It?

The lack of a free or discounted upgrade path – and the absence of any communicated enhancements beyond a probable resolution bump – will sting for players who already own the Switch version. That said, for Switch 2 owners coming to the game fresh, this is a well-regarded remake: the Steam version carries an Overwhelmingly Positive rating from over 2,000 user reviews.

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Star Ocean: The Second Story R is available now on Nintendo Switch 2 at [price] via the eShop, alongside existing versions on Switch, PS4, PS5 and PC.

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