Square Enix has quietly re-released Chocobo GP, a Final Fantasy spin-off racer game on the Nintendo eShop. The title features a hefty price tag of $49.99 and packs all the items available through microtransactions in the previous versions of the game.
Square Enix re-released Chocobo GP on June 15 — it now includes all unlockables in-game and no longer has microtransactions https://t.co/w6P55n6S4v
If you previously played Chocobo GP Lite, you can purchase the upgrade to transfer your save: https://t.co/vgyObWutJr pic.twitter.com/2HZ9bzhXxK
— Nintendeal 👻🎃 (@Nintendeal) June 19, 2023
Chocobo GP was initially released in 2022 in two formats – a premium and a lite version. The lite version was free to play, with players gaining option to acquire more content through microtransactions. The premium game featured full base content including the story mode, as well as multiple online play options. This version too, however, was not free of microtransactions. Square Enix seems to have combined both of these versions in the new definitive edition.
Square Enix’s decision to re-release this game, especially this close to the release of Final Fantasy 16, surely seems odd. Furthermore, the initial release of Chocobo GP wasn’t greeted with good reviews. Players were not at all happy with all the microtransactions. And as a result, Square Enix’s proposed rival to Mario Kart seemed to have failed.
Just nine months after the game’s release, the developer decided to hold off on releasing any more large-scale updates for the title. The in-game shop for microtransactions was shut down from January 2023. After that, Square Enix relied on seasonal and weekly content updates to retrieve some good will, which seemingly worked with some of the previously disappointed fan base.
Now, this new version, as advertised by the developer, does not feature any time or money-based content. Players can earn tickets and Gil (the in-game currency) by playing the game and spend them in-game to unlock new costumes, characters, and grips.
Mixed fan reactions for Chocobo GP re-release
While some fans are pleased with Square Enix’s decision to completely rid the game of any microtransactions, others are still wary. Some fans are happy with the re-release, claiming this is how the game should have been when it initially released.
Should have been this way at launch
— Christopher (@Christopher_Kni) June 19, 2023
Why wasn't the game like this at launch
— kt (@kt_0451) June 19, 2023
The game is very fun. I had like 80 hours into it. Micro transactions suck, but the game was always really fun
— Barik4Smash (@Barik4Smash) June 19, 2023
Some gamers still have reservations, mostly about the Switch-exclusivity of this game, hoping for release of Chocobo GP on other platforms.
Would buy it instantly If it would be on PS4/5
— ThisTattooGuy (@ThisTattooGuy) June 19, 2023
Cool but until they re-re-release it on another platform I don't care. Not paying Nintendo tax for this game that I already emulated.
— LudusAurea (@LudusAurea) June 19, 2023
Chocobo GP is available on Nintendo eShop for direct download. Players who already own a version of the game will be prompted to upgrade their existing version to the newly released one.
Source: Nintendeal (via Twitter)
