Switch Yuji Horii explains: This is why Dragon Quest VII Reimagined comes before remakes of IV, V and VI

[Dani.]

Following the release of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake last year and the imminent Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (released in October 2025), the remake series is in full swing. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined was surprisingly announced at the Nintendo Direct in September even before possible remakes of Dragon Quest IV, V , and VI were announced .
Many fans wondered why Part VII was being made first. This question also reached series creator Yuji Horii in a Japanese livestream.

Yuji Horii said: “It just happened first by chance”​

In the stream on the channel Yuubou & Mashirito no KosoKoso Housoukyoku (September 15, 2025), Horii talked about the remake.
When asked why it was “not 4-5-6, but 7,” he replied: A lot of things are happening right now, but it just happened to be completed first.
When asked whether this meant that IV, V and VI were not planned, Horii evaded the question: I didn't say that (repeated three times)

Development of VII went particularly smoothly​

Later in the conversation, Horii emphasized again: As I said, we want to make the games playable on current platforms. With VII, there was simply a development phase that progressed very well.

Host Naz Chris asked whether Part IV's chapter structures might result in longer development times. Horii just laughed and said: In the foot, in the foot ...

Release date for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined​

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will be released worldwide on February 5, 2026 for:

• Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC (Steam & Microsoft Store)

Horii indicated that remakes of Dragon Quest IV-VI are not out of the question – but currently Dragon Quest VII is simply further along in development.

 

[Deleted member 560402]

I need to point out that 1-3 and 7 were huge in the west.

 

[Aziamuth]

It looks so good... but it's still Dragon Quest VII. I'll await patiently, but eagerly

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

Because great games shouldn't be remade, its the flawed gems that showed potential that always deserve a second shot.
You can just go play the great game. It doesn't need improving, unless you're suddenly going to claim its now magically always been bad please give HD graphics

No dice. Go play the Thing Remaster and learn to appreciate IMPROVEMENT

Only asking for the great games to be remade is no different than Bethesda releasing the 35th revision of the Skyrim special edition.
Wow! It's the same! Take my $80usd

 

[030079AR]

I wasnt even fan of 7, and always hate how the main character looks (XI also comes in mind)

But im fine to see how the remake prosper in the future. The 1+2 and 3 2DHD remake is blowing my mind with the graphic style wise.

I wish that octopaths using this colors, instead lomo style tone.

This should be foundation for simpler, less budget for FF1-6, i really doesnt like PR remaster feels, comparing with this treatment of DQ, classic FF is far from cool

 

[qw90700]

Honestly I don't wanna play the smartass but it wasn't surprising at all:

- 7th was originally released in a state that required an update or remake which we only got on 3DS. Relatively it has less accessibility to the overall modern audience outside of 3DS when previous games either way had tons of remake/ports that people played over and over again to this point. In the end 7th had a good potential that wasn't delivered ok on PS1 and was technically limited on 3DS. Now being released to PC and modern home consoles the game can shine as it was intended. This is what to like about the positive aspect of remakes.

- IV, V and VI are part of a "trilogy" that their connections don't really matter to the general audience but hardcore fans which is the reason why if you had started developing one of these games you would need to keep going developing all of them one by one for very long development cycle to deliver their new remakes. Until then who knows if there will be a video game industry that people would be interested in buying the 7th or the company would exist to develop it. 7th game can be considered as a game that its full potential in terms of sales may not be satisfied yet which may be what they are after before it loses its potential popularity, especially to play for trying to attract young adults who have a job enough to buy remakes of games they played when they were a kid. In this context after 7th they would probably go for VI remake because it's the "game tells about the beginning of the trilogy".

What I'm surprised is they made new Dragon Quest remakes with a new BS culture of Americans, they even censored words for genders as if they are a curse word SMH, they refer genders as "Type A" and "Type B" as if they are supposed to be robots lol. Should we force Japanese companies into the understanding of rest of the world is not like America so we should demand "international" version of games seperated by American version of games? What is next? Turn-based twerking moves in American version of the game replaced from para-para intense dancing in Japanese version??? Add guns into Dragon Quest instead of using swords and bows or some shit if you are that kiss ass of Americans. No more walking!!! Add Ford pickup truck you can drive even in castles!!!! "Localization is so important we also gotta translate the culture too yo" so let's change name of the series to "Dragon Motherfucker Job" so you play as professional superhero who fights against gangs and evil company people or some shit with companions who is not with you for they like you or somehow your job aligns with yours, they only care about being hired by you for the money!!! ayy ayy ayy lmao

 

[Zeo]

They most likely will go for a remake of the Zenithia trilogy if VII Re sells well. If not then maybe a HD version

What i wonder is if mah man Torneko will also get something good in the dungeon genre for the new generation

 

[solnK!]

Dunno, Im happy for this remake, DQ VII deserves more love.

What i wonder is if mah man Torneko will also get something good in the dungeon genre for the new generation

Couldn´t agree enough, there´s not enough Torneko in this world yet.

 

[UnDubious]

Mystery Dungeon is Chunsoft though. There was a long hiatus with Shiren and then they made a bunch of new games, so maybe they could make a new Torneko.

" Horii just laughed and said: In the foot, in the foot ..."

This has to be Ai translation, because what the hell does this mean

 

[Not_Red]

I'd say one of the more likely reasons is because people can no longer officially play VII in any other console unless you have a 3DS cartridge or the PS1 release as this game specifically never released on mobile devices, not even the remake as Nintendo is the one that owns the localized translation and not SE.

 

[Aziamuth]

I wasnt even fan of 7, and always hate how the main character looks (XI also comes in mind)

But im fine to see how the remake prosper in the future. The 1+2 and 3 2DHD remake is blowing my mind with the graphic style wise.

I wish that octopaths using this colors, instead lomo style tone.

This should be foundation for simpler, less budget for FF1-6, i really doesnt like PR remaster feels, comparing with this treatment of DQ, classic FF is far from cool

I won't tolerate Auster slander

 

[Dyne]

I really liked the way they did DQ3 HD-2D.
I'm looking forward to this because I havent played VII yet, but I'm hoping for 4/5/6 in the HD-2D style.

 

[030079AR]

I won't tolerate Auster slander

i'm sorry, i don't understand Auster Slander

 

[Aziamuth]

i'm sorry, i don't understand Auster Slander

"Slander" is a term from the English lexicon that means "to attack with false accusations", but on a more coloquial sense it's often used as a synonym of "insulting". "Auster" is a non canon name that's often associated with the Hero of Dragon Quest VII. What I was trying to say was that I will not tolerate attacks on the protagonist of Dragon Quest VII. Of course, it's all in good faith and for laughs. I just think he's nice.

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2025

I really liked the way they did DQ3 HD-2D.
I'm looking forward to this because I havent played VII yet, but I'm hoping for 4/5/6 in the HD-2D style.

I think the HD-2D remakes look nice if you do some changes to the lighting, which can be done on PC at least

 

[030079AR]

"Slander" is a term from the English lexicon that means "to attack with false accusations", but on a more coloquial sense it's often used as a synonym of "insulting". "Auster" is a non canon name that's often associated with the Hero of Dragon Quest VII. What I was trying to say was that I will not tolerate attacks on the protagonist of Dragon Quest VII. Of course, it's all in good faith and for laughs. I just think he's nice.

Post automatically merged: Sep 23, 2025

I think the HD-2D remakes look nice if you do some changes to the lighting, which can be done on PC at least

ah I see, well that personal views, no hard feeling.
I might be not liking MC, but I like the prince kiefer.

 

[zacharinolongpants]

Maybe THIS remake of VII will make it good lol.

Joking aside, I do think VII is agonizing to push through. This version looks awesome and hopefully will make the game more of a joy to start and dive into.

I totally see why they chose this one. Most of the other entries are still good on their own, but this one needed some professional intervention if you ask me lmao. I'm sorry to all DQVII fans for this take. I mean no ill will hahahaha. You guys are masochists though.

 

[Heinzu]

Ok I would have preferred a remake of the fifth part but well that can still come in the next few years.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

DQVI on the DS is apparently really expensive.

 

[Aziamuth]

Maybe THIS remake of VII will make it good lol.

Joking aside, I do think VII is agonizing to push through. This version looks awesome and hopefully will make the game more of a joy to start and dive into.

I totally see why they chose this one. Most of the other entries are still good on their own, but this one needed some professional intervention if you ask me lmao. I'm sorry to all DQVII fans for this take. I mean no ill will hahahaha. You guys are masochists though.

I'm a big Dragon Quest fan but I'd never recommend VII to anyone. I don't even think it's bad

 

[What's His Face]

I love the Dragon Quest games, but this is one I will not be buying new unless it's with a gift card and there's absolutely nothing else to spend it on. I deeply distrust Square-Enix and their heavy-handed censorious ways of late, and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is fairly reeking of that particular dragon crap. Which I find depressing, as I loved the Playstation original and the DS remake.

 

[Graw]

I'd say one of the more likely reasons is because people can no longer officially play VII in any other console unless you have a 3DS cartridge or the PS1 release as this game specifically never released on mobile devices, not even the remake as Nintendo is the one that owns the localized translation and not SE.

There was a Japanese mobile port that never got localized. Apparently it's different from both the ps1 version and 3ds version.