Great news for Nintendo Switch players: Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age has returned to the eShop with a fresh, more affordable price tag. Priced now at $39.99, it’s an enticing offer for anyone who hesitated before. After a brief hiatus, while Square Enix made updates, fans of this long-time favorite RPG series can dive back into its magical world.
The pause in availability, starting February 1, had us all speculating. Square Enix had hinted at “minor updates” to its listing, and many of us suspected this meant a shift in the publisher role. This title had been published by Nintendo on the Switch, unlike its presence on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation platforms. The switch back to Square Enix as the publisher aligns with their strategy of consolidating their library, as seen with titles like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy.
Now officially under Square Enix, Dragon Quest 11 S returns with a fresh price drop as announced by the official Dragon Quest Twitter account. Fans expected this move since Nintendo is known to stick to original pricing outside of fleeting sales. Yet, it’s a wonderful surprise for everyone looking to score the best Dragon Quest game at such a reasonable cost.
Remarkably, this isn’t the first time the game has received a permanent price cut. Nintendo surprisingly reduced the game’s price to $49.99 in 2020, just a year post-launch. As the game ages, this new $39.99 price feels more justified, but two permanent discounts on a Switch title is a rarity indeed.
Despite the joy of Dragon Quest 11 S’s re-entry to the platform, fans are still left in the lurch regarding the next installment in the series. It’s been quite a wait since Square Enix announced Dragon Quest 12 back in 2021, marking the longest gap between releases in this beloved franchise. Some are hopeful that this price adjustment hints at upcoming developments, but time will tell if these are realistic expectations.
For now, there’s plenty of excitement to be had in replaying or discovering the world of Dragon Quest 11 S at this new price point. Whether you’re crafting the perfect party or diving into the vast adventures the game promises, this discount makes it all the more tempting to embark on this epic journey once more.