The Dragon Quest franchise has hit a new milestone in terms of worldwide sales, as Square Enix has revealed that Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition have sold a combined 5.5 million number of units around the globe.
The Dragon Quest series is practically a national institution in Japan and its games have sold incredibly well over the years, but the international response has been less positive. Dragon Quest V and VI were skipped over and didn't receive an English localization until the Nintendo DS era, while Dragon Quest VII (released as Dragon Warrior VII) for the original PlayStation looked practically ancient compared to the Final Fantasy games of the same era.
Square Enix has made several attempts to win the Dragon Quest series the same kind of fanbase internationally as it has in Japan, but it was usually considered to be a niche interest, even to those who love JRPGS and/or the artwork of Akira Toriyama.
It seems that the eleventh entry in the Dragon Quest series may have finally won over the West, as it has done incredibly well in sales. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Square Enix has announced that both Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age for PC and PlayStation, and Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch have sold a combined 5.5 million units around the world. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii released a statement about the sales of the games.
"I strongly believe that this figure has only been achieved thanks to our fans who have always loved the DRAGON QUEST series and also the new players who discovered DRAGON QUEST or JRPGs through this title. If I could ever go back in time to meet myself when I was still making the very first DRAGON QUEST, I would love to tell him, 'In 30 years' time, DRAGON QUEST XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age has been released and loved by international fans beyond seas and languages.' I will carry on doing my very best to deliver further DRAGON QUEST titles to our fans worldwide. Thank you very much to all the fans who have enjoyed the title!"
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age took a while to find an audience, despite the mass critical acclaim and adoration of those who played it. The game received a huge bump in publicity when the Luminary was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as part of the Hero character, along with a stage from Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
The Dragon Quest series has had some incredible games that have been criminally overlooked in the west. We can only hope that the newfound audience for the series will be tempted to try out the older games, which means that Square Enix needs to get off its butt and remake/remaster the older titles and put them on platforms outside of mobile phones.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz