Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age has made a return to the Nintendo Switch eShop, and it’s got a sweet new price tag. For those who have been waiting to dive into this classic JRPG series, there’s no better time. After a brief hiatus last month, while Square Enix sorted out some updates, the game is once again available for download and at a more wallet-friendly $39.99.
Earlier this year, Square Enix announced that Dragon Quest 11 S would be temporarily removed from the eShop starting January 31, to make some “minor updates.” This left many speculating, with a popular theory suggesting that the publishing responsibilities were shifting. While Square Enix already handled the game’s publication across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation platforms, Nintendo had been taking care of it on the Switch. This move was reminiscent of Square Enix’s past actions with titles like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy, implying a similar change with Dragon Quest.
Now, Dragon Quest 11 S is back, and as expected, its listing reflects Square Enix as the new publisher. But that’s not all—alongside this update came a permanent price cut to $39.99, as announced on the official Dragon Quest Twitter account. Many had guessed a price reduction was on the horizon, especially since Nintendo isn’t known for discounting its games outside of short-term sales. So, it was a pleasant surprise for fans to see what many consider the best in the series offered at such a low cost.
Interestingly, this isn’t the game’s debut price drop. Back in 2020, just one year after Dragon Quest 11 S hit the market, Nintendo made the unusual move of reducing its price to $49.99. Considering the game’s age, this latest further reduction feels more justified, but it’s still a rarity to see two permanent price decreases for a Switch game.
While it’s great news to have Dragon Quest 11 S back at a bargain, the gaming community is still anxiously waiting for any solid updates on the next installment in the series. The gap between the release of Dragon Quest 11 and the announcement of Dragon Quest 12 in 2021 is the longest in the franchise’s history, and we haven’t heard much since then. Some might see the price cut of Dragon Quest 11 S as a hint at exciting developments to come, but that may just be a touch of optimism rather than solid expectations.
