Square Enix has released a Nintendo Switch 2 port of the 2023 RPG Star Ocean The Second Story R, but has sparked backlash by offering no upgrade path or save-file transfer for existing owners of the Switch version, echoing complaints from a similar Octopath Traveler ports announcement earlier the same week. Fans have flooded social media and YouTube with criticism, arguing that loyal players who already bought the game should be able to upgrade for a small fee rather than pay full price again.

The new Switch 2 edition costs £39.99/$49.99 and is digital-only, which has further angered fans given wider anxiety about physical media, following Sony's announcement that it will end physical game production from 2028. The timing has also drawn ridicule, as the announcement comes just days before a Star Ocean 30th-anniversary livestream on 19 July, and Square Enix is currently discounting the original Switch version to $24.99 until 17 July as part of the celebrations. Star Ocean The Second Story R is now available on Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5 and Windows PC.