Square Enix recently shared in their fiscal report that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has outperformed its sales projections. Known for its rigorous standards, Square Enix doesn’t often celebrate surpassing expectations. However, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s spectacular sales numbers have left the company pleasantly surprised, prompting them to acknowledge its success.
Reimagining a beloved classic, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake brings the charm of the original NES game to life with a fresh HD-2D graphical engine and several quality-of-life enhancements. Launched on November 14, 2024, it quickly captivated audiences, racking up almost a million physical sales in Japan during its debut week. By December, Square Enix proudly announced that global sales, including both shipments and digital downloads, had exceeded two million copies.
Square Enix attributed these impressive numbers to the increased operating income from its HD Games division, which manages console and PC gaming titles. Meanwhile, the MMO division also experienced growth thanks to the new expansion for Final Fantasy 14, Dawntrail. Despite these successes, the company’s net sales were still down compared to the previous year based on 2023’s financial results.
Square Enix’s financial reports typically highlight instances where their games fall short of sales goals—Final Fantasy 16, for example, which moved three million units in its first week was later noted as not sustaining high sales over the long term. Likewise, previous titles like Tomb Raider and Sleeping Dogs have also been mentioned in similar contexts, with subtle hints that even anticipated titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth didn’t quite hit their targets. Remarkably, one of the few to exceed expectations in recent times was Trials of Mana, the remade third entry in the Mana series initially for the SNES.
Factors like these have encouraged Square Enix to shift focus towards multi-platform releases. Historically, Square Enix has fostered strong ties with PlayStation and Nintendo, often releasing exclusive titles on their consoles—but usually for a limited duration. The Japanese publisher now plans to abandon these exclusivity agreements, opting instead to launch future titles across a wider array of platforms, including both consoles and PCs.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake vividly reimagines the iconic adventure within the Erdrick Trilogy, drawing players into a world rich with history and narrative. It tells the story of the hero Ortega, whose quest to defeat the fearsome Archfiend Baramos ended in failure, leaving the protagonist to take up the mantle on their sixteenth birthday and strive to accomplish what their father could not. The remake pairs its storytelling with captivating HD-2D visuals, blending classic pixel art with modern 3D graphics, all while providing a modernized user interface and updated gameplay features.
Players can expect a revitalized take on the conventional turn-based battles typical of the franchise, with the inclusion of polished animations and settings such as adjustable battle speed and auto-battle options. The game invites exploration of an expansive world, filled with diverse and intriguing locales, challenging players with unforeseen encounters along their journey.
