UPDATE: Almost immediately after publishing this article IGN released a statement from a PR representative that confirms the 3DS version won’t be heading overseas but the Switch version should land after 2018. Here it is in full:
In a statement, Square Enix told IGN: “Our aim with Dragon Quest XI and the Dragon Quest brand is to grow the audience in the West. From a business point of view, it made strategic sense to release the 3DS version in Japan in 2017. For the West in 2018, it made the most sense to focus on the PlayStation 4 and PC (Steam) platforms.”
As for the Switch version, things are slightly less clear. “We are also developing the Switch version for Europe and North America,” reads Square Enix’s statement, “but development is expected to take a long time from a technological standpoint as well, so we still have a long way to go until its release”.
At a Dragon Quest event, a Square Enix PR representative told IGN that the Switch version would definitely not be released in 2018, and could end up being released “much later”.
One of the biggest Japanese RPGs of the year just got a western release date, but those of you who were hoping to play it on Switch or 3DS are out of luck. The latest press release and video for the game only confirm PS4 and Steam as platforms for when the game launches this September 4th. Still, there is a silver lining as we now know of a few additional features that are being added.
For starters, the game will be getting English voice acting after having none at all in the original Japanese release. Likewise, a harder difficulty mode will be added, alongside a dash button, camera mode and overhauled menu navigation. Check out the debut PS4 footage:
Considering the Switch version has yet to be shown even in Japan, it makes some sense that Square Enix hasn’t mentioned it in this announcement. That means there’s still hope the game will arrive on the system swiftly for those of you who want to quash slimes on the go!
Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
