Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Heading to the West in 2018

Glad to hear it.
Not XX but still good.

How is this both on the PS4 and 3DS? Are they two different games?

Took you long enough, NintendoLife. This news broke yesterday.

I'm looking forward to this. Not sure if I want the PS4 version or 3DS version, but I'll probably get the PS4 one.

Only the PS4 version is a safe bet for localization.

I'll only consider the Switch version when (or if) it happens.
(And assuming it gets localized)

They better localize the 3DS version. I need it.

@SMEXIZELDAMAN Yes, in the best possible way. PS4 version is grand 3D version running on UE4. 3DS has both 3D in the style of the other 3DS DQ and classic pixel 2D, whichever you prefer. The 3DS version is like a classic JRPG with modern production values. It's a beautiful thing.

I wonder if the switch is being delayed/cancelled by Nintendo due to the switch's no region lock. It's a long shot but Nintendo's logic has always been quirky.

Let's hope they show the Switch version soon, and that the three of them come to the West at the same time. That'd be best.

@IceClimbers gotta disagree with you on that one.

This NEEDS TO hit the switch!!!

I bet it will get localized for Switch, though it wouldn't surprise me if that version comes out in the West a few months after 3DS and PS4. PS4 and 3DS are both pretty much a given IMO. I'll be waiting for Switch, though.

@arrmixer PS4 lacks region lock...

@BLP_Software
Yeah but Sony never cared about region locks. Nintendo is the company that puts emphasis on "region lock".

Maybe i'm alone with this, but i really wanna see Dragon Quest Builders or a Sequel on Nintendo Switch.

@arrmixer They only dropped region lock with PS3.

Plus Nintendo says import if ya want or use a foreign eShop. We just advise against it for support reasons if something goes wrong.

@BLP_Software
Well PS3 had been around for a while now (10 years) and using the foreign eshop sounds like a hack to me right? Not supported by Nintendo? I'm referring to every console besides the switch of course.

@arrmixer Switch lets you use a foreign eShop and PS3 from launch was the first console from Sony to be region free.

Im talking about your idea about Switch DQ11 being delayed due to region locking. Its simply not true. The official line is you can but it makes things awkward if somwthing goes wrong but you have complete freedom.

@BLP_Software so this game was also released on the switch? I thought it got delayed?

I hope it come to the 3DS but I will so buy a Switch to play this.

I can see why Square Enix would bring the Switch version last, don't want to take the hype away from the 3DS and PS4 versions due to its hybrid nature.

@arrmixer It is delayed for Switch. But the reason why evidently isnt because Nintendo has a region free console

Can't wait... well i can, but I'm looking forward to it

I hope to see some news about the Switch version soon. Totally looking forward to this game.

@BLP_Software
Ah so you believe they delayed the project for other reasons then. Okay. I hope you're right. I'm actually looking forward to playing this game WHEN it finally comes to the west. But I'm only buying if it's for the switch. It's been a very long time since I played a dragon quest game.

DQXI PS4 localization is a sure bet. Switch version is likely as well, given that it will most likely be based off of the PS4 version. Not sure about the 3DS version.

@arrmixer Sony had also regio locked consoles...

Region free Nintendo systems:

GameBoy
GameBoy Color
GameBoy Advance
Nintendo DS
Nintendo Switch

Region locked Nintendo systems:

Nes
Snes
N64
GameCube
Wii
Wii U
3DS

Region free Sony systems:

PS3
PS4
PSP (game wise, not movie UMD's)
PS Vita

Region locked Sony systems:

PS1
PS2

(and movie UMD's on PSP)

I'll be getting 3DS version until the Switch version drops. I would get it on PS4, but if it's gonna land on Switch, no need. Rather have the ultimate handheld/console dual version. And 3DS because it's a totally different version with 3D and 2D sprites, which is cool as heck

@JaxonH The Switch version is supposedly going to be different from the 3DS and PS4 versions, too. If so, I'm personally planning to pick up all three versions. It'll help support the series anyway, and that's something it desperately needs out here.

@faint I agree, with the releases on DS and 3DS so far, I'd say PS4 and 3DS versions are a safe bet. Switch version though is up in the air at this point.

Getting the Switch version. I feel like Squeenix is going to use the western launch date to do a worldwide switch release. As it gives them ample time to finish the build and to go ahead and bake in the localization.

Getting the 3DS version and that's it

I only have a passing interest in DQ but I am craving strong single player experiences on the Switch.

I've never played a DQ game. Do I have to play the others to get the story or is it like Final Fantasy where the games aren't really connected?

Hey square enix. Are you listening. Us switch owners want your games on the switch. I have a PS4, but won't be buying that version. We want the switch version. Give us the f@#king switch release.

@BLP_Software I doubt Sony will let Dragon Quest being released on Switch. It's the game that will save the PS4 in Japan. Sony paid for Street Fighter 5 not being released on Xbox One and Monster Hunter World to not be released on Switch. They control the industry now.

@arrmixer That's a bit beyond crazy, even by Nintendo's logic

The higher end version of this game looks so beautiful, that playing it on 3DS seems to me like a waste. I hope it goes to switch.

The switch needs this game as early as possible, to trigger a strong rpg market through the console lifespan, and to aspire to be the leading rpg platform.

Talking about switch rpgs, I am waiting for Square enix to release more info on octopath traveler.

@justin233 No Dragon Quest game requires any familiarity with previous games in the series, rather like Final Fantasy - though the games are not as wildly different as Final Fantasy entries tend to be. The first three DQ games are the only exception, as they tied in with one another in a neat fashion. Others in the series have some overlaps that fans will pick up upon, and I believe DQ4-6 had some loose thematic links, but not in any way that each continued the story from the last. Basically, though, start anywhere, including DQXI, and you'll be fine.

@bitleman DQXI has been confirmed for Switch since launch. It's almost certainly coming. The only thing we don't know for sure is that it'll be localised - but I think even that is more likely than not.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!! Provided there is a switch version. I'll buy a 3ds version but wont likely play it.

I may get both versions, but I'll definitely get at least one. My PS4 Slime controller is already on the way.

@bitleman DQXI wouldn't have come to 3DS if that were true.

I'll be picking up the Switch or 3DS version, depending on factors around the release. I've seen some footage of the 3DS version, and the 2/3D split looks great!

I would hope the PS4/Switch/3DS versions are released concurrently in the west. Having the game come to Switch later after the hype has settled down would be disappointing.

@MegaTen So has the Switch version really been confirmed? For real? ; w; I want it so bad...
Also #SMT4Lyfe

I don't know which version to get! The ps4 version looks gorgeous! But the 3ds version has the old school graphics! So torn...

Get me MH instead xd

Well I'm hoping Switch but a 3ds version would be nice too

Switch or nothing

@SMEXIZELDAMAN same game except ps4 ver is higher quality graphics obviously. perspectives are different from each other. 3ds version, the bottom screen displays old school mode (nes style graphics) while top screen displays the main game

Why do these games takes so incredibly long to get localized? I mean, I understand there's obviously a fair amount of effort involved in the translation and localization process, and that these games are definitely text-heavy. But still, that's relative, I mean it's not like they're having an illiterate single scribe translate and manually write down an entire series of novels, and then do it all over again a few more times in different languages. Right?

There are plenty of devs who do worldwide simultaneous releases, but a few are notorious for being excruciatingly slow with this process, like Square-Enix (Capcom is another one) and I see no good reason for this. Delays of several weeks or even a few months would be understandable, but we're talking about timescales of up to and sometimes exceeding a year - that's just nonsense.

Switch version or GTFO!

@Reginald The 3ds version is a different game. Sony won't let the exclusivity on the HD version go away.

Wow, Ok, Great News ......

..but...

...where is the Switch version ?!?!?!?!?!?

@bitleman And yet the Switch version was still announced to begin with. If Sony did purchase exclusivity, they would have never announced that.

In all likelihood, DQXI has been in development for awhile and they're only just NOW starting on the Switch version.

It was actually the first Switch game announced if I recall.

It'd be a shame to miss out on it. Personally I'm happy to wait a while (even a couple of years).

@Thierry Well this is in general but you have to remember that games are localized not translated. Meaning that more work is put in instead of a 1-to 1 translation and they are done for the day. So first off the game itself has to be translated and then checked. It is also then modified to make the text match the culture it is heading to which may be as big as censorship of certain topics to avoid issues, changing names/locations for easier consumer consumption (and to avoid issues) and then all that text has to be coded into the game. And that means every single instance of text has to be checked or you can run into issues. Also 1to1 translations don't work because Japanese doesn't quite mesh with most western latin based languages due to syntax and in some ways culture (subject omissions in conversation for instance). Also Japanese is very punny and often relies on homophones for many jokes and anecdotes...that doesn't work once you change the language and the reference might even be obscure enough that the team doesn't bother (for instance the DLC that was cut from one of the Ace Attorney games due to the need of Japanese history knowledge) with keeping it in the first place. Or localization fumbles (and by that I mean it sounded like a good Idea at the time for the first game due to the naming conventions and puns to make it more digestible for a general audience, but now the game setting and story are working against the localization) such as AA games being set in the US for the NA version...which began to look really dumb as it became more and more obvious the series is set in Japan (Or the prequel series that you can't set in the US without some SERIOUS handwaving and buttpulls).

Or in the instances where localization "upgrades" the original content because the translation team went nuts (Fawful...seriously night and day from his Japanese counterpart). Also any game that has voice acting, well that has to be redone and that takes studio time and a team of voice actors (which sometimes are the translators too a la Treehouse on occasion). Multiply that by the number of regions you are localizing for and that becomes quite the time and money sink. And this is often done while the dev team is chugging along on the original Japanese build (and thus similar to most DLC come back after the the game has gone gold to work on localization). Time, money and work hours can only go so far.

Also there is the ROI question. Because we are consumers and by virtue of the term are essentially greedy, many of us expect if not outright demand more media to consume on the regular, but a business doesn't work that way. Many times they want to test the market in their home country before localization or previous localization of games in a series didn't net the ROI that the shareholders feel is worth the effort to keep trying elsewhere. Often releasing a product in another region is seen as a revenue revitalization or an extra bucket after the primary market goal is met (or on its way)...this happens in business in general as well. Quite frankly if a game wasn't slated to be a worldwide release project from the start non Japanese consumers are going to take a backseat in priority until the game goes gold (maybe slightly before) and no amount of fan wailing will change that. Granted the fan whining will sometimes if done positively convince a dev team or publisher to localized when they had no plans at all to (as in no test market, no gonna localize later... essentially putting the game on a import or shut up status).

There are other matters for some games such as licensing, cultural focus and media tie ins. So for instance Just dance has different songs in different regions...why not just make one game with asian and spanish songs and so on and so forth? Licensing. What about games with a cultural focus? Taiko no Tatsujin is my life blood but the average westerner doesn't know what a taiko is (I play in real life as well and I always have to explain myself) so that would be a poor ROI to localize (especially after the lone release tanked in the west). Or what about games based on Japan only tv shows or movies? Again poor ROI. Don't get me wrong back in the PS2 era some of the most random games got a chance to flop in the west, but the costs to make games are going up and up...and it is harder to justify a gamble that might eventually send you belly up if you keep taking a chance.

Also there are release schedules to think about. When a release is staggered Japan first, world second that usually means that a localization announcement needs to be held off so current products aren't sent out to die in other regions. After all less people are going to buy the version that has been out in Japan for a year if the brand new sequel comes out in the west around the same time (I'm willing to bet one of my eyes that is what is happening with MHXX) or if they want to focus on something else. You also have to remember that due to the time localization takes you can miss hardware hype windows. Games that were big 3ds heavy hitters before the Switch came out might not benefit as much now from a 3ds localization or even worldwide release (Poor Ever Oasis) because gaming is fickle and most people trade in their systems for the new ones. Not everyone keeps every system they have ever owned and the Nintendo/Sony/MS faithful aren't the cash cows they think they are...the "casual gamer/ annual/ graphics4life gamers are.

The internet and leaks and the impatience of customers have really made it harder for localization to survive unscathed.

"Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Heading to the West in 2018"
Much like a new POTUS? I'll see my self out.

This makes me happy. I'll probably end up double dipping on this. That is, if the 3DS version comes here as well as the PS4/Switch version.

If we're getting a 3DS version I want the Metal Slime 2DS XL!

I need thisPlease come fast!

@Reginald Actually you may be correct in regards to a timed exclusivity for consoles then interestingly enough I just logged on the Japan eShop (Switch) and DQX (All in one version) is actually available, If the development framework is not so different then I think - probably the Switch version of DQXI already exists in there labs somewhere.....

@justin233 It's exactly like that, the story is rebooted every time. DQ6 was my first one

@Ryu_Niiyama
Nice explanation. You should save that 🙂

@TheLZdragon
Yeah, I did say It was a long shot.

At this point I am just waiting for Xenoblade Chronichles 2 and Skyrim. My Switch hungers for big RPG games.

2018 is looking to be a great gaming year also.

I am getting this game in some form, RPGs are where my heart lies, though I play lots of diff genres. The issue? I need to know about the Switch version. Just as I PREFER my FIFA on the go as opposed to the PS4 that I rarely am home and have unfettered TVaccess to play, I REALLY prefer time intensive RPGs to be able to be played on the go.

And still we have nothing on Dragon Quest X...

I really loved the idea of switching between 3D and 2D graphics so i'm going with the 3DS version.

@MegaTen Yeah, I'm aware of that, but since then we'd only heard there were "adult circumstances" as to why they haven't said more, so it's a bit concerning.

@MegaTen Cool, thanks

@ThatNyteDaez And it's very unlikely. Sadly.

@ThatNyteDaez The best chance of that we have is once Nintendo pushes the network sub live. Dragon Quest X is mostly paid in Japan (they have this weird free time but whatever) and right now I doubt they are expecting a ROI of any sort to release it before hand. I do suspect if we get it it will be switch version only and that the DQXI switch sales will play a factor in it. Still a FAAAAAR off long shot though. I still expect squenix to say no.

@arrmixer Haha thank you. A lot of that while I spoke in general, humorous terms because it was late at night when I wrote it comes from personal research, common sense (seriously sometimes consumers forget that businesses aren't a charity focused on them), explanations from a mentor of mine that does freelance translation (for the past 30 years) and has done some un-credited game localization work (she is a Japanese native that became a naturalized US citizen and has been speaking, reading and writing both languages- English and Japanese- for most of her life) and I have another buddy that is younger than my mentor but is doing the same thing (and is the same as above) and both have given me pretty much the same confirmation of stuff I already knew. I always say you have two legal/legitimate options...be patient or learn Japanese...it is a lovely language.

Square Enix will publish the PS4/Switch version Nintendo will publish the 3DS version.

I'll probably get the 3DS version if it releases here.

@Ryu_Niiyama Thanks for the novel. I know all that though. That does not change anything about the fact that some companies simply take an utterly excruciatingly long period of time to translate and localize their games, while others deliver similar games in a far more timely fashion. There's just no good reason for localization times of more than a year, however many excuses some people might be willing to come up with.

I'll wait for that sweet Switch version

@Ryu_Niiyama
Learning Japanese is definitely in my bucket list. Unfortunately, I spend my free time in software development. I wish I didn't have to sleep so I could learn some Japanese and Hangul. 😂
It sounds like you want to become an official translator yourself. If that is the case I hope you reach your goal. You are definitely doing the right things to accomplish it.
The demand at least to me seems to be picking up considerably each generation as the cultural barriers continue to get blurred on both sides US to Japan and Japan to US.

@Thierry Well I addressed your concern in my "novel" including consumer impatience. Have a wonderful day!

@MegaTen So...Japan is closed for the day correct? I would hate to be a manager in an office over there. "WTH is everybody?"

@SMEXIZELDAMAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S8aGM5WfVE

@Ryu_Niiyama And you!

@crackafreeze Not even the Metroid 2 Remake! That and Pokemon Sun/Moon Ultra will probably be the only 2 more games i'll pick up for my 3DS sadly.

Disheartening Square-Enix has now only confirmed the PS4 version will come. Hopefully Nintendo have dibs on announcing the 3DS and Switch versions.