The much-anticipated return of the Dragon Quest series has been marked with the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on December 1st. Taking place in an expanded version of the world of Dragon Quest IV, this latest installment in the beloved franchise brings a plethora of never-seen-before monsters to the game, along with brand-new features such as randomly generated dungeons and Quickfire contests. However, if you’re an avid PC gamer like us, you must be wondering if you can hop onto this game on your PC. Let’s find out!
Can We Play Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on PC?
At the time of writing this article, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is not available for PC. The game was launched exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, and the game’s publisher, Square Enix, is yet to hint at or announce any plans for a PC release.
The lack of a PC release has cast a big shadow of disappointment among the PC gaming community. Given the game’s nostalgic allure and large scale, it’s understandable that many players are disheartened by its absence on the PC platform.
But should we throw in the towel just yet? Well, the answer is no, according to the resilient Dragon Quest community. Despite Square Enix’s silence on the issue, fans remain hopeful and continue to speculate about when Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince might hit the shelves for PC gamers.
Will Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Be Released For PC?
While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact date, it’s reasonable to expect a PC version of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince as early as six months to a year from its initial launch. The expectation is based on common industry practices and previous release patterns.
For instance, several Square Enix games that were initially released on the Nintendo Switch, such as Dragon Quest XI and Lost Sphear, saw their Windows releases a few months after their initial debut.
Furthermore, the lack of communication from Square Enix regarding a PC release shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a negative sign, as the game publisher has a track record of surprising fans with unexpected releases.
Dragon Quest Treasure, for example, was launched on Windows six months after its Nintendo Switch debut without any prior announcement or even a hint of its arrival. However, at the same time, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince has regrettably gotten very little attention from the gaming press.
Square Enix would, therefore, undoubtedly need to consider the cost implications of porting the game to PC, as the sales generated would need to justify this expenditure. Moreover, another factor that could potentially hinder a PC release is the existence of an exclusivity agreement between Square Enix and Nintendo. Such agreements can sometimes restrict a game’s availability on other platforms.
As always, these are speculations, and we would need to wait for official announcements or a surprise PC release for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince.
Final Thoughts
As devoted PC gamers, our best course of action is to remain hopeful and wait patiently for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince to come to PC. Do you think Square Enix will listen to PC fans and release a Windows version soon? Let us know your thoughts and insights in the comments below!