Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age has made a welcome return to the Nintendo Switch eShop, now at a more appealing price of $39.99. As fans eagerly await the next chapter in this storied RPG saga, those who haven’t yet experienced its current installment can finally do so without breaking the bank. After a month-long hiatus, Square Enix has reopened the gates, offering access to Dragon Quest 11 S once again, thanks to a few needed updates.
Back on January 31, Square Enix took the game off the digital shelves for some “minor updates,” leading many to speculate about the underlying reasons. While they already managed the game’s publication on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, Nintendo was the one handling the duties on the Switch. Given Square Enix’s pattern of taking over typically resulting in delistings—as seen with titles like Octopath Traveler—it wasn’t a leap to assume they were making a similar move here.
Now that it’s back, the game’s listing officially credits Square Enix as its publisher. But that’s not the only big reveal: the Dragon Quest Twitter account broke the news that the price has dropped permanently to $39.99. While Nintendo is known for maintaining its pricing, rarely offering significant discounts, this move makes Dragon Quest 11 S more accessible to fans and new players alike. With some even considering this the crowning jewel of the franchise, its affordability is a significant boon.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the game’s price has been slashed permanently. Back in 2020, just a year after its initial release, Nintendo surprised many by cutting the price down to $49.99. The latest decrease seems more logical, considering the game’s age, yet for a Switch title, such persistent reductions are not the norm.
While current gamers enjoy this classic at a bargain rate, the wait for Dragon Quest 12 lingers on. The gap between the eleventh and the next installment has stretched into the longest yet. Despite an announcement in 2021, fans are chomping at the bit for more news. The latest price cut for Dragon Quest 11 S might hint at exciting developments yet to be disclosed, though such hopes may be more fanciful than founded.
