Square Enix has announced that Dragon Quest 3 HD will be available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
A few hours ago, the official Dragon Quest III X account revealed that the HD remake/remaster was now available on current-generation systems. Regretfully, no further information regarding the HD-2D Remake was provided. During the live webcast commemorating the franchise’s 35th anniversary in 2021, the remake was formally unveiled. Square Enix at the time only stated that a console release for the remake was planned.
“In this latest visual iteration of DRAGON QUEST III, long-time fans and newcomers will be invited to experience this HD-2D version of DRAGON QUEST III that provides a unique three-dimensional feel by adding 3D effects to pixel-based backgrounds” , Square Enix stated at the time. “DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is planned for release on console.”
For the original NES, Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds of Salvation was launched back in 1988. Along with a GBA version in 2001, an improved version was launched in 1996 for the SNES. Later on, the game was also released for phones and the Nintendo Wii.
The game’s next update is an HD-2D reproduction of the original, with a visual design similar to that of other current Square Enix games like Triangle Strategy and Octopath Traveler. While the approach may appear straightforward, creating HD-2D games is actually highly costly. Producer Tomoya Asano stated in 2022 that “it’s probably worth noting that it costs more than you’d think.” “In that respect, it’s a good match for the titles want out of Square Enix. There might not be much to gain from other companies copying it.”
Moreover, the producer stated, “There is. The teams on the former titles released information for the newer teams. If they have information they feel might be useful, we encourage the exchange of information across development companies. If a method of expression was used in an earlier title, there’s no reason it can’t be incorporated into the newer titles.”