Dragon Quest VII delayed until end of May

[01.26.00] » Enix pushes back the next Dragon Quest title again without explanation, while Square maintains a pre-summer date for Final Fantasy IX.

   Enix of Japan today announced that it has once again delayed its much-anticipated RPG Dragon Quest VII, pushing the game's release back from Winter 2000 until sometime near the end of May. No reason was given for the delay, although Enix stated after a previous delay that it would use the extra time to improve the game's quality.

   On a related note, Square of Japan announced late last November that it was delaying the PlayStation's Final Fantasy IX to avoid coinciding with the release of Dragon Quest VII. When contacted today with news of DQ VII's setback, a spokesperson for Square asserted that the company still intends to release the game "sometime before the summer holidays in Japan." It's quite possible Square will now rush to release Final Fantasy IX sometime before May in order to first reach the market with a blockbuster RPG, undermining Enix's efforts.

   Originally, Dragon Quest VII was scheduled for release in the spring of 1999; by the time the game reaches store shelves, Dragon Quest VII will already be over a year late. For more on Enix's latest effort, be sure to read the GIA's comprehensive preview.