Summary
- Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake exceeded initial sales expectations, surpassing two million copies sold globally.
- The MMO division also saw a boost due to the release of Dawntrail, the latest expansion for Final Fantasy 14.
- Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is scheduled to be released sometime in 2025.
Square Enix stated in its newest fiscal report that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake exceeded its initial sales expectations. The company is widely known for setting a high bar for its games and rarely announces when a title surpasses expectations. However, since its release, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has been pulling impressive sales numbers, prompting Square Enix to make a statement regarding its success.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is an entirely remade version of the classic Dragon Quest 3 for the NES, built in an HD-2D graphical engine and featuring numerous quality-of-life improvements. The JRPG was released on November 14, 2024, and was instantly a massive success, reaching nearly one million physical sales during in its first week in Japan. In December, Square Enix revealed that Dragon Quest 3 Remake sales surpassed two million copies worldwide, counting shipments and digital downloads.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Guide Hub –Tips, Combat, Dungeons, & More
Dragon Quest 3 Remake is a complete rebuild of one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made. Here is our complete collection of guides and walkthroughs.
These numbers pleased Square Enix, which revealed in its latest financial report that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake had stronger sales than initially thought. The company attributed the JRPG's performance to the increase in operating income for its HD Games division, which covers console and PC titles. Meanwhile, the MMO division also saw a boost due to the release of Dawntrail, the latest expansion for Final Fantasy 14. Despite that, net sales were again down year-on-year since Square Enix's 2023 financial results.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Surpassed Sales Expectations
Usually, when Square Enix releases its financial report, it comes with several claims that its games didn't meet sales expectations. This happened even after Final Fantasy 16 sold three million units in its first week. Initially, Square Enix stated that Final Fantasy 16's sales were extremely strong, but it shifted the narrative when announcing the financial report covering its launch period. According to the company, Final Fantasy 16's long-term sales didn't remain as high as expected, leading to lower-than-projected revenue.
In the past, the company has stated that other games also failed to meet expectations, including Tomb Raider and Sleeping Dogs, and even hinted, without outright saying it, that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PS5 also didn't reach its expected sales figures. Surprisingly, one of the last games Square Enix revealed to have exceeded expectations was Trials of Mana, the remake of the third Mana series entry initially released for the SNES.
Due to these sales projections, along with other factors, Square Enix is focusing on multi-platform releases. For many years, Square Enix maintained strong partnerships with both PlayStation and Nintendo, releasing its games exclusively on their respective consoles, albeit for a limited time. Now, the Japanese company has stated that it will end exclusivity deals and aims to release all its future games across multiple platforms, including consoles and PCs.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- November 14, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy.
Story:
Years ago, the great hero Ortega bid farewell to his wife and child as he set off on a quest to defeat the villainous Archfiend, Baramos. Ortega failed his quest, and Baramos still threatens the world. Now, on their sixteenth birthday, Ortega’s only child is summoned by the king of Aliahan and entrusted with a mission of the highest import: to take on Ortega’s quest, vanquish Baramos, and save the world.
A fully modernized remake of the original:
Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.
Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles:
A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.
Immersive world:
Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Dragon Quest
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- November 14, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
