Dragon Quest Planned For Year End

via ign

The Japanese game market came to a close in 2006 with Dragon Quest Monsters Joker, which hit the DS on December 28. It looks like 2007 will end the same way.

Jiji News reports today that Square Enix plans to release Dragon Quest IX to the Japanese market towards the end of the year. Company president Yoichi Wada said to the news service in Tokyo today, "We're aiming to begin sales for the year end sales season."

This first numbered Dragon Quest game since 2004's DQVIII was given a playable preview at its unveiling a few weeks back, suggesting that a release wouldn't be too far off. Wada's comments suggest, rather, a November or December release for the title.

Hopefully an international release won't be too far behind.