The wait for the North American release of the game that sold more than four million copies in Japan comes to an end this July, as Nintendo locks in a date for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
Dragon Quest IX for the Nintendo DS shattered sales records in Japan, so it came as no real surprise when Nintendo revealed a "unique partnership" with Square Enix to takeover publishing duties for the North American release. That release is now slated for July 11, the perfect release window for parents looking for a DS game to keep the kids quiet during long car trips.
"DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the biggest games ever to hit Nintendo DS, with an incredible amount of content for every kind of player to enjoy," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "This new game has all of the elements of an instant classic: customization options, a great story, and the ability to share a nearly limitless experience with friends."
It should be interesting to see if the North American release of Dragon Quest IX, designed with Western gamers in mind, comes anywhere close to generating the sales and buzz that it did in Japan.