Square Enix has drawn the ire of Nintendo fans, as the company isn’t offering a Switch 2 upgrade path for their Dragon Quest I & II 2D-HD remake. While players will be able to use their Switch 1 copy on Switch 2, they won’t be able to get those extra benefits that come with the stronger console. Needless to say, fans are pretty mad about this.
The company released an FAQ for their upcoming remake (via Wario64), where they detailed various aspects of this game. In the FAQ, Square Enix confirms that fans who pick up the Switch 1 copy won’t get an upgrade for the Switch 2 version. As if that wasn’t annoying enough, fans also won’t be able to transfer their saves from either version, which is just confusing at this point.
Considering how third-party titles haven’t sold too well on Switch 2, behavior like this won’t help things. Most fans were expecting to upgrade their older versions of Dragon Quest I & II 2D-HD, whether they’re saving up for the new console or just want a pure physical copy. Not being able to reap the benefits of a console upgrade just seems like a waste of time and money.
For all the flak Sony and Microsoft get for their business decisions, both companies tend to give fans an upgrade path for cross-gen games. Xbox is usually more generous, making them free, while Sony mixes it up between free and paid upgrades.
Admittedly, this seems to be more Square Enix’s fault than Nintendo’s. Bandai Namco’s upcoming Shadow Labirynth game will have a free Switch 2 upgrade for Switch 1 owners. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has a free upgrade for digital copies, though physical owners will be missing out. Square doesn’t have much of an excuse for not doing the same with Dragon Quest I & II 2D-HD Remake, aside from wanting more money.
This writer recommends just getting the original Switch copy and not bothering with a Switch 2 upgrade. This is a collection of classic turn-based JRPGs, so framerate doesn’t matter. Fans will probably get a kick out of playing this on the original Switch, as frame drops won’t feel drastic. Plus, the Switch 1 copy will be a true physical, unlike the Game-Key Card for Switch 2.
It’s really disappointing to see a publisher like Square Enix behave like this, especially for Dragon Quest I & II 2D-HD Remake. With rumors of more Dragon Quest remakes coming out soon, Square Enix should consider making this version more accessible to late Switch 2 buyers. As it stands, this is typical corporate behavior, and it’s disappointing to witness.
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