Square Enix and Omega Force's block-building RPG, Dragon Quest Builders 2, has been listed on Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass, with Dragon Quest fans excited at the prospect of being able to play one of the game's titles on an Xbox console.
While Dragon Quest Builders 2 is part of the Dragon Quest series, it differs from other titles in the franchise quite a bit. Notably, it is a block-building sandbox game, as opposed to the traditional turn-based JRPGs that the Dragon Quest series is renowned for. The Dragon Quest franchise has generally been released for PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, with a few of the more recent titles having Windows releases, and the expanded version of Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of An Elusive Age (Dragon Quest 11 S) seeing an Xbox One release November 2020.
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While Dragon Quest Builders 2 is available for Microsoft Windows, it has had no official Xbox release up until this point, instead only being available for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Although the game doesn't officially release until May 4, it is currently available to be pre-purchased and pre-loaded for Xbox consoles via the Microsoft store, despite the game not being listed as available on Xbox on its official website.
This listing on the Microsoft store page is an exciting event for many fans of the franchise, who have not only been awaiting a Dragon Quest Builders 2 release for Xbox consoles, but are also likely holding out for more Dragon Quest games to come to Xbox in the near-future. This wouldn't be entirely unprecedented, as Dragon Quest 11 S, a more traditional Dragon Quest title, was released on Xbox One in 2020.
The release of Dragon Quest 11 S, along with Dragon Quest Builders 2, could show that Microsoft has some interest in bringing the franchise to Xbox consoles. Octopath Traveler, another Square Enix title, also saw a late release to Xbox Game Pass a little over a month ago, along with a number of other RPGs. Many had speculated that Dragon Quest Builders 2 would never come to an Xbox console, due to the nature of the franchise's past releases, but Microsoft's slowly growing interest in the series may indicate further releases in the future.
Fans have concerns that many won't purchase Dragon Quest Builders 2 on Xbox Game Pass, thus showing Microsoft there is little interest in the series. This is perhaps due to the fact that Dragon Quest is less popular in the West than in Japan and Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a niche game in the franchise to boot. However, with pre-purchase being available for Xbox Game Pass, fans of the series can head over to the Microsoft store and pre-download the game right now.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is available for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC right now. An Xbox release is available on May 4, with pre-purchase available now.
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