It's been eight years since Dragon Quest X released, and after several expansions, it's finally time for the MMO to release in the West.
It's been eight years since Dragon Quest 10 released on the Nintendo Wii. Since that time, there have been various ports to other systems, like the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and even 3DS. There have been multiple expansions, each the length of a full game, and various crossover events with other Dragon Quest media. Despite all that volume, however, DQ 10 has never released in the West.
Dragon Quest X is an MMORPG set in the world of Astoltia. Players can choose from one of five playable races, as they traverse various cultures and zones in an attempt to save the world. Over the years, it's gotten several expansions and remains a cross-platform title that can be played solo or with friends. However, a brief visit to that world through the Altar of Ages in Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the closest most westerners have ever gotten to experiencing DQ 10 for themselves.
Although immensely popular in its home country of Japan, Dragon Quest hasn't been as successful in Western countries like the United States. This means that some games don't get localized, of course, but Dragon Quest 10 is the ONLY mainline entry to never release outside of Asia. There have been multiple fan campaigns and petitions to get the game localized, but none of that has paid off — so far. Now, however, the timing is perfect for Dragon Quest 10 to finally make its way West, and here's why.
Dragon Quest 10 is a real juggernaut of a game, with hundreds of hours of content, and the MMORPG deserves a Western release. Between fan campaigns and petitions to get Square Enix to release the game, various rumors have circulated from time to time about DQ 10 leaving Japan. Last year, the IP ban was lifted for the United States, allowing some Americans to play the game whether they understood the language or not. This speaks volumes to both the demand for the game and the dedication of the Western fandom. Both are big reasons DQ 10 could succeed in the West.
Dragon Quest is also at an all-time high with popularity in the West right now. DQ 11 was the best-selling entry in the entire series for western countries, and those numbers will increase even more when the definitive version of Dragon Quest 11 releases on PS4 and Xbox One later this year. That increased popularity is most likely why the Dragon Quest: Your Story movie released on Netflix (and with English voiceovers), something that would've seemed unfathomable five or ten years ago.
Although it's been eight years since the original Dragon Quest 10 released, that doesn't mean the game will never get localized. Dragon Quest of the Stars, a mobile game, had been out in Japan since 2015 before it finally released in the West this year. Both the movie and mobile game were likely released because of Dragon Quest 11's success, and the Hero's inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate certainly helped expose the series to a broader fanbase. With the Western fandom growing at such an exponential rate, the timing is ideal for Dragon Quest 10 to finally get a localization.
The chances of Square Enix ever releasing Dragon Quest 10 in the West may seem slim, and there's no guarantee it'll ever happen. That hasn't stopped loyal fans from trying, though, and the series has now reached new heights of popularity. If it was ever going to happen, now is the time.
