Dragon Quest gets a 40th anniversary stream from Square Enix tomorrow
Square Enix is celebrating Dragon Quest’s 40th anniversary with a special streaming event on May 27, 2026—exactly 40 years after the franchise’s debut in Japan on May 27, 1986. The beloved role-playing series has experienced significant international growth in recent years, particularly following the 2017 release of Dragon Quest 11, which brought explosive popularity to the franchise worldwide.
The anniversary broadcast will be held at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST and will be available on the official Dragon Quest YouTube channel in Japanese with English subtitles. While anticipation has been high for potential major announcements, Square Enix has confirmed the event will be brief—lasting approximately 10 minutes. The short broadcast will feature an introduction from series creator Yuji Horii and include trailers, with reports suggesting a possible reveal for Dragon Quest 12.
In recent years, Square Enix has been actively reimagining and remaking classic Dragon Quest titles. The company released Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake in 2024, followed by Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD Remake in 2025, with Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined arriving in 2026. These remakes have brought renewed attention to the early entries in the franchise and demonstrated Square Enix’s commitment to making classic Dragon Quest experiences accessible to modern audiences.