Dragon Quest IX launches in North America on July 11 [update]

Nintendo and Square Enix have announced that the North American release of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinel of the Starry Skies for DS has been set for ~~June~~ July 11, exactly a year after it launched in Japan. As was revealed in February, Nintendo will be publishing the game here -- although the English localization is being handled by Square Enix and not NOA's Treehouse team.

Dragon Quest IX has sold more than four million copies to date in Japan, where the game's WiFi "Pass-By Guest" feature has proven very popular. North American gamers will get a chance to experience it as the renamed "Tag Mode," silently trading character stats, battle records and play data with other DQIX players simply by walking near each other with their handhelds in sleep mode. If you encounter a player who's logged more than 400 hours in the game, it's probably this guy.

You'll find pre-order information (and a rather delightful trailer) on the game's official website.

Update: Dragon Quest IX will be released in Europe on July 23.

Dragon Quest IX (05-19-2010)

Reader Comments (28)

Yes! I've been looking forward to this game for so long.

This just made my day! Time to find and dust off my DS i guess!

You read the date wrong. It's 07.11.2010, not 06.11.2010, so July not June.

I find it mind blowing that they updated the article with the European date... but still didn't bother changing the US one

Wait, the site says "coming 7-11-2010", isn't that JULY 11th? Which is it? Regardless, I can't wait to get my hands on this game.

july 11 makes more sense because it lands on sunday june 11 is friday

This will be my first ever Dragon Quest game – though I did plough a couple hours into the clone/homage on RGC. Anyway, I hope DG lives up to – my somewhat lofty – expectations.

I must add; every screenshot I've seen from this game does look rather lovely.

It's pretty. I'm wary, as I just haven't been able to get into JRPG's as much as I used to, but if it gets some good reviews I might check it out.

reviews? people still give a shit about reviews and review scores? why don't you just try the game out for yourself, instead of being told what to like and what not to like?

reviewers are stupid.

Reviews are a completely valid way to get a gauge on a prospective purchase - IF you read them. I'm not talking about looking at a Metacritic score and saying 'okay, it's 80 so I'm good.' There are reviewers whose opinions I respect, and I look to get their thoughts on games often before I check them out. I listen to a few gaming podcasts, and I use the discussions there in the same way. By gauging their tastes, and how they compare to mine, I can be a better educated consumer.

It's not like I never buy games that aren't highly rated, I just like to know what I'm getting into. If a reviewer who I know, like me, is burnt out on tired-out JRPG conventions plays this game and doesn't like it - I can be pretty sure I'll have the same reaction.

How is that not safe and logical consumer education?

Or you could base if off the fact that it sold some 4 million copies in Japan the first nano second it was released.

Or something along those lines.

I wouldn't - because the average Japanese gamer has vastly different tastes from me. Judging by the kinds of things that sell like gangbusters over there. Things that I have absolutely no ability to derive enjoyment from.

I haven't enjoyed a Pokemon game since the first one I played. The fact that they're boring isn't reflected in the sales. Dragon Quest is probably the same way. I will avoid this for a year and if people still talk about it, then I'll get it.

nothing wrong with waiting to see some reviews. there is more to reviews than just the scores you know. it's good to get some information on gameplay, pros, cons, target audience, etc.

but don't worry, you're still cool hating over there. *thumbs up*

7.11.2010 != June 11. Joystiq FAIL.

I take it you know some programming?

YES FINALLY.

Loving the Dragonball Z hairstyles you can make for your companions... I'm totally rollin' with a supersaiyan on my team

It helps when Toriyama does the character designs for this game as well.

Seriously, you can make Vegeta, Goku, and Uub alone!

YEEESSSSS, it's about time! As ugly as 3-dimensional games are on the DS, I still have to purchase this day one. Already got DQVI on pre-order. Will do the same for IX as soon as they list it on Amazon.

Exactly one year from the Japanese release, huh? Very, very odd.

Just from sheer number of comments I can already guess it's gonna sell more copies over here than across the pond.

I'm glad to hear that SquEnix is doing the localization on this. Not that Nintendo doesn't have one of the best localization teams in the industry (they do), but the team at SquEnix have already left their indelible mark on the series, and it just wouldn't be right to have someone else do it - besides, I worry that Nintendo's team might steer away from the at-times raunchy innuendos that have been a source of much hilarity in the recent games.

I guess "DQ: Angels" was too simplistic?
Alliteration ftw.

Awesome!

I can hardly wait. :)

So are the accents still in the game or are they gone?

OMG that's my B-Day!

Dragon Quest IX launches in North America on July 11 [update]

Dragon Quest IX (05-19-2010)

Reader Comments (28)

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:33AM NaeemTHM said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:42AM DokiDokiBawanga said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:44AM jobocan said

Posted: May 19th 2010 10:48AM skyblaze said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:48AM Nathang199 said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:53AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:53AM Nigeria said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:54AM Jerk Face said

Posted: May 19th 2010 12:00PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 19th 2010 12:04PM Jerk Face said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:08PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:32PM Jerk Face said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:55PM Jack Spicer said

Posted: May 19th 2010 2:08PM Punkrawk Bbob said

Posted: May 19th 2010 9:58AM heekie said

Posted: May 19th 2010 4:02PM Xiegfried said

Posted: May 19th 2010 10:00AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 19th 2010 10:13AM skyblaze said

Posted: May 19th 2010 12:18PM DonaldMick said

Posted: May 19th 2010 4:05PM Xiegfried said

Posted: May 19th 2010 10:34AM LokeSTL said

Posted: May 19th 2010 10:34AM KingBroly said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:06PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:22PM gatotsu911 said

Posted: May 19th 2010 1:45PM Solar Jetman said

Posted: May 19th 2010 2:34PM SpikePoint said

Posted: May 19th 2010 3:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 19th 2010 5:04PM psych7111 said

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