After discontinuing its free-to-play Lite version of the game in June and ending official content support at the end of 2022, Square Enix today silently re-releases Chocobo GP on the Nintendo eShop at US$49.99. The new store page for the game notes that the re-release will allow players to unlock all in-game items without spending real money as the game forgoes any microtransactions.
The new re-release of the game omits all timed-exclusive content and makes them all readily available to unlock through normal gameplay. This also means that players can collect all characters and costumes without additional payments.
The new download on the Nintendo eShop explains that the product is a set containing Chocobo GP Lite and an upgrade to receive the full version. Players who have previously downloaded Chocobo GP Lite should simply purchase the “upgrade to the full version of the game” DLC instead.
▍About Chocobo GP
Developed by Arika, Chocobo GP is a racing game that features casts of Final Fantasy such as Gilgamesh, Vivi, Moogles, and of course the titular Chocobos. Treated as a spiritual successor to 1999’s Chocobo Racing for the PlayStation, the game features Mario Kart-like mechanics such as Magicite summons and character-specific abilities that spice up the races. The game first launched on January 12, 2022, but would then end content support and sales of its Mythril microtransaction currencies on December 21 of the same year.
Frustratingly for fans, Chocobo GP was criticized severely for its overabundant amount of time-limited microtransactions and grind-heavy unlocks, with critics notably pointing out how series-favorites such as Squall and Cloud were locked behind a season pass paywall or long-term Mythril grinding.
