Yuji Horii
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Dragon Quest series surpasses 100 million units sold on 40th anniversary
Square Enix announced that the Dragon Quest series has sold over 100 million units worldwide, coinciding with its 40th anniversary. Series creator Yuji Horii conveyed a message to fans, promising continued hard work to deliver future installments.
Dragon Quest series crosses 100 million units sold
The Dragon Quest series has surpassed 100 million units sold worldwide, as announced by series creator Yuji Horii. Horii expressed gratitude to fans and the development team for their support over the franchise's 40-year history. The news comes as the series anticipates future releases like the Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake and the re-development of Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams.
Dragon Quest franchises surpasses 100 million units sold
Square Enix announced that the Dragon Quest franchise has sold over 100 million units worldwide. The JRPG series, which began in 1986, has released 11 main titles and numerous spin-offs, with several new games and remakes in development or recently released, including Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams and Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World.
After 43 years, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii is making a surprise sequel to his NES murder mystery game
A sequel to Yuji Horii's 1983 murder mystery game, The Portopia Serial Murder Case, has been announced with Horii supervising as executive director. The text-based detective game, set in 1980s Kobe, will feature new characters and a new string of murders. It is slated for a 2027 release on Nintendo Switch and PC, though English language support is not yet confirmed.
Dragon Quest's Yuji Horii realized his JRPG series was a "cultural phenomenon" when DQ3 had fans…
Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii reflected on how Dragon Quest III's immense success in 1988 transformed the JRPG series into a cultural phenomenon. He expressed surprise at the long lines of fans waiting to purchase the game, a level of popularity he hadn't anticipated and worried might not last.
Dragon Quest 7 was going to be an open-world game, series creator Yuji Horii says, but "the story fell apart" so the team had to "add some degree of order to it"
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii revealed that Dragon Quest 7 was initially planned as an open-world game. However, the development team had to rework the design to add more order to the exploration because the story 'fell apart' in its initial open-ended state.
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii says AI "hardly ever makes things up" anymore, even if it once made up that he…
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii expressed his admiration for the advancements in AI, noting its improved accuracy. He discussed the implementation of a Google Gemini-powered chatbot, Oshaberi Slimey, in the MMO Dragon Quest 10, aiming to make AI interaction more accessible.
Like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation boss, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii worries live streams may not actually sell games: "Some people will be satisfied by just watching"
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii questions the marketing effectiveness of game live streaming, suggesting that some viewers may be satisfied by watching rather than playing. He notes a shift towards casual gamers who prefer quick experiences. Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi previously shared similar concerns about the impact of streamers on game design.
Dragon Quest creator explains why Dragon Quest 9 was a Nintendo DS exclusive
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii explained in an interview with Famitsu why Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies was developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS. Horii felt the handheld console was the ideal platform for the game's unique features and appeal.
Dragon Quest 9 has been trapped on the Nintendo DS for 17 years, and franchise creator Yuji Horii was "a little disheartened" to learn fans never wanted that
Dragon Quest 9 has remained exclusive to the Nintendo DS for 17 years, a decision that initially disheartened franchise creator Yuji Horii due to fan backlash. While Square Enix developed the game for the DS to leverage its local network capabilities for quick play, fans had expected a release on more powerful consoles like the PlayStation 3 or Wii. Despite initial criticism, public sentiment has evolved, with some players now appreciating the game's DLC and multiplayer features, though a remake remains unlikely.
Dragon Quest creator comments on why DQ9 was a Nintendo DS exclusive, team was “a little disheartened” by the fan reaction
Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii reflected on the decision to make Dragon Quest 9 a Nintendo DS exclusive, citing the desire for easy local network play and multiplayer features. He admitted that the team was disheartened by the fan criticism at the time, who had expected a successor to the 3D graphics of Dragon Quest 8 on home consoles. While Dragon Quest 9 remains a Nintendo DS title, the possibility of a remake on modern platforms is hinted at.
Chrono Trigger Turned 31, and Square Enix Still Hasn’t Made Anything Better
Chrono Trigger, released 31 years ago, remains Square Enix's benchmark for JRPG quality, a standard the company has yet to surpass despite its rich history. The game innovated by removing random encounters, featuring a compelling story, and boasting a legendary soundtrack, all thanks to a dream team of industry veterans. Despite its enduring legacy, Square Enix has failed to bring Chrono Trigger to modern platforms, hindering its accessibility and preservation.
From the creators of Dragon Quest and Blue Lock, Tensei Game: Karma x Cross gets new details and first trailer
ArtePiazza has revealed new details and the first trailer for Tensei Game: Karma x Cross, formerly known as Reincarnation Game. The title, featuring supervision from Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and concept from Blue Lock's Muneyuki Kaneshiro, is set to launch on Nintendo Switch in Japan on August 6. The game involves participants competing in a "Tensei Game" to collect "Karma" and qualify for reincarnation.
Prime Slimes: A Guide To Gaming’s Greatest Goo-Getters
This guide explores the history and evolution of slime monsters in video games, from their origins in Dungeons & Dragons to their iconic status in franchises like Dragon Quest and Puyo Puyo. It highlights notable slime characters and games where players control slime protagonists, showcasing their enduring appeal as a beloved monster archetype.
Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami believes devs need to "make games that leave people wanting to clear them with their own hands" rather than being content watching a playthrough
Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami believes that games should be designed to encourage players to complete them themselves, rather than being satisfied by simply watching a playthrough. He argues that if watching is enough, the game wasn't compelling enough. This sentiment was echoed by Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi, who also expressed concerns about player agency in modern RPGs.
All Dragon Quest Announcements from Update on May 27, 2026 - NintendoFuse
Square Enix revealed several updates for the Dragon Quest series, including a development restart and title change for Dragon Quest XII to 'Beyond Dreams'. The new Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is coming to multiple platforms, and Dragon Quest XI S is receiving a Nintendo Switch 2 version. Additionally, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake have sold a combined 4 million units globally.
RPGs like Dragon Quest 11 and Nier: Automata are heavily outsourced, Square Enix producer says, with surprisingly few…
Square Enix producer Yosuke Saito revealed that popular RPG series like Dragon Quest and Nier heavily rely on outsourced developers, with neither being made entirely in-house. For example, Dragon Quest 11 saw between a third and a half of its development handled internally, while Nier: Automata was developed by PlatinumGames. This trend is expected to continue with future titles like Dragon Quest 12.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World Has Been Rated For Switch 1 & 2
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World has received an E10+ rating from the ESRB, indicating its upcoming release on Nintendo Switch. The game, announced as part of the Dragon Quest series' 40th anniversary, features turn-based combat and monster taming. A rating was also spotted for Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition, with a confirmed September 24, 2026 release date for Switch 2.
Dragon Quest V Character Debora Returns in New Dragon Quest Monsters
Square Enix has confirmed that Debora, a character from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, will appear in the upcoming Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. Yuji Horii confirmed her inclusion, though her exact role is still unknown. The game is in development for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams Revealed for Series’ 40th Anniversary
Square Enix has revealed Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams, formerly known as Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, as part of the Dragon Quest series' 40th anniversary. The game's title and logo have been updated following a restart in development under a new structure. Messages from series designer Yuji Horii and executive producer Yosuke Saito were shared, along with in-development gameplay footage, though no release date or platforms have been announced.
