Summary
In a recent interview,Dragon Questcreator Yuji Horii offered an update on the development of the upcoming HD remake ofDragon Quest 3.Originally released in 1988, the widely belovedDragon Quest 3: Seeds of Salvationhas been remade for various consoles in the decades since. The newest HD remake is being developed alongside two other entries in theDragon Questfranchise:Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince,and the series' next main installment,Dragon Quest 12.
The iconicDragon Quest 3was a groundbreaking success,greatly influencing the video game industryand prompting developer Enix (now Square Enix) to re-release the game multiple times over the years. Most notable were the 1996 remake for the Game Boy Color, which added several new features and graphical improvements, and the 2011 Wii version which added a quick save feature. In 2021, during the franchise’s 35th anniversary livestream, Square Enix announced a new “HD-2D” remake ofDragon Quest 3,in a style inspired by modern 2D RPGs likeOctopath Traveler.
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In a recent interview with the Japanese outlet Famitsu, Yuji Horii offered fans an update about the ongoing development of theDragon Quest 3HD-2D remake. When asked about the development status of theDragon Questfranchise as a whole, Horii initially spoke aboutDragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, which willfeature many iconicDragon Questmonstersand is set to release on December 1 of this year. Horii was then asked specifically about theDragon Quest 3remake, to which he responded that development was “progressing pretty steadily,” although he did not disclose a release date for the project.
Horii also responded to questions about his personal involvement with the development of theDragon Quest 3remake, as well asThe Dark Prince.On the latter project, Horii said his role has mainly consisted of playtesting and offering feedback to the development team, and he said his involvement with the remake was “about the same.” He did, however, offer more direct advice and input on theDragon Quest 3remake, because, as he put it, “I made [Dragon Quest 3] once myself.” This level of involvement by the original game’s creator should help make this projectanother successful Square Enix remake.
While eager fans will surely be disappointed by the lack of a confirmed release date for theDragon Quest 3HD remake, it is good to know that the project is proceeding at a steady pace and hasn’t beencondemned to development hell. Likewise, the confirmation of Yuji Horii’s personal involvement with the game should be encouraging to fans who want to see the original spirit of the RPG classic survive and flourish in a new, modern style.
TheDragon Quest 3HD-2D remake is currently in development.
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