Square Enix, the Japanese multinational holding company, video game publisher, and entertainment conglomerate that is partially known to some gamers for never being satisfied with the sales performance of its games, is finally happy with at least one title, according to a new financial results document that the company published last week that names DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D REMAKE as having achieved stronger sales than its executives had “initially assumed.”
“The HD (High-Definition) Game sub-segment’s net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024 declined compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year as new titles generated lower sales than releases such as ‘FINAL FANTASY XVI,’ ‘FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER,’ and ‘Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince’ had the previous year, Square Enix reported before sharing some more positive news for investors. “However, sub-segment operating income increased mainly due to lower development cost amortization and advertising expenses compared with the same period of the previous year, as well as stronger sales of the November 2024 release “DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake’ than initially assumed.”
“SQUARE ENIX announced today that DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake, the RPG that IGN called ‘a shining example of how to remake a classic RPG,’ has surpassed 2 million units in worldwide shipments and digital downloads,” reads a press release that Square Enix shared on December 5, confirming a new sales milestone for the RPG that has been described by some players as being gorgeous and absolutely stunning. “The game, which launched globally on Nov. 14, is currently available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on Windows.”
“Acclaimed by critics all over the world, DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a complete remake of DRAGON QUEST III (originally released in 1988), now featuring the HD-2D graphic style, a unique blend of pixel art and 3D graphics,” a description for the game reads. “The story and the series’ familiar turn-based command battles remain true to the original, but DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake also includes a variety of additional elements, including voiced event scenes, orchestral music, a new ‘Monster Wrangler’ vocation, the ‘Monster Arena’ feature for extra challenges and new story episodes featuring Ortega, the protagonist’s father.”