Dragon Quest 11 confirmed for Nintendo NX, Square Enix plans simultaneous launch with PS4 and 3DS

Series creator Yuji Horii talks DQ11's release schedule with Junichi Masuda and Masahiro Sakurai.

A round-table discussion between Pokémon producer Junichi Masuda, Super Smash Bros director Mashahiro Sakurai and the Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii has led to confirmation that Dragon Quest 11: In Search of Departed Time is on its way to Nintendo's next home console, codenamed Nintendo NX.

While the next entry in the Dragon Quest series was originally announced as a cross-platform title for the PS4, Nintendo NX and the Nintendo 3DS handheld, a later statement from publisher Square Enix stated that it was only "considering launching" on Nintendo's in-development system.

In the round-table's transcription in the October edition of Nintendo Dream (via Gematsu), Horii confirmed that "there will be four versions across three platforms" with two 3DS versions – one in 3D and the other in 2D only.

Due to the narrative-driven nature of the Japanese RPG series, Horii also noted that the studio is aiming for a simultaneous release across the three platforms in order to avoid the story being spoiled for fans.

Despite Square Enix's hopes, Horii admitted that launching all four versions at the same time could prove tricky. "There are concerns when making several versions at the same time, and to that extent it's difficult, so we're making the game to the best of our ability," he said.

Dragon Quest 11 does not have a concrete release date as yet, although a Japanese launch is expected before 27 May 2017, two months after the Nintendo NX's planned launch. Unfortunately for Western fans, the game has yet to be confirmed for a US and European release, a decision that has, inevitably, prompted an online petition.

While fans wait for confirmation of a Western release, they can at least find solace in the fact that the 3DS remake of Dragon Quest 7 – subtitled Fragments of the Forgotten Past – is set to arrive in the US and Europe on 16 September this year.