Dragon Quest VII Reimagined graces the latest cover of Game Informer — a notable milestone, as it marks the first time in the magazine’s 34-year history that a Dragon Quest title has appeared on its cover. While in Tokyo to preview Reimagined, I spent 90 minutes with series creator Yuji Horii discussing the franchise’s legacy, the challenges and rewards of remaking classic entries, the state of game preservation, and more.
For the full, in-depth conversation and a comprehensive look at Dragon Quest’s history as told by Horii, read the feature here: The History of Dragon Quest, as told by creator Yuji Horii.
Horii opened the discussion by reflecting on the technical limitations developers faced when the early Dragon Quest games were made.
“We were constrained by many elements when we developed those games,” Horii explained. “Watching this new generation of creators reimagine and remake these titles is fascinating.” Editor’s note: Horii sat beside Reimagined producer Takeshi Ichikawa during this interview.
He added that, unlike many other forms of media—old manga or films, for example—video games become harder to access as hardware cycles progress. Remakes, Horii suggested, create opportunities for contemporary players around the world to experience older entries on modern consoles and platforms, which he views as a very positive development.
When Game Informer video editor Alex Van Aken asked Horii about game preservation specifically, Horii acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
“It’s difficult to avoid in today’s environment,” he said. “Earlier generations often had limited entertainment options and could spend tens or hundreds of hours with a single game. Now, there are far more kinds of entertainment competing for people’s time, so it’s increasingly challenging for any single title to capture that same share.”
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on February 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
While you wait for release, explore more coverage: check out this digital issue breakdown, view the cover reveal, and subscribe to access the Dragon Quest VII Reimagined cover story and our complete deep dive with Yuji Horii. To subscribe, visit Subscribe.
