The Risky Bet That Shook Dragon Quest: Yuji Horii Reflects on the DS Exclusivity Backlash
In a recent retrospective, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii discussed the internal and external challenges faced during the development of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Breaking a long-standing tradition of mainline entries appearing on home consoles, the team opted for the portable Nintendo DS to emphasize local multiplayer and social interaction. This decision was initially met with significant fan backlash, as players were accustomed to the high-fidelity presentation found on platforms like the PlayStation. Horii noted that the development team felt disheartened by the negative reception at the time, though the game eventually became a massive commercial success, validating the team's vision for a more connected, portable RPG experience.
