In a recent discussion about the intersection of gaming and technology, Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the beloved Dragon Quest series, expressed his vision for enhancing player experiences through AI. His ambition is to foster stronger connections between players and their virtual companions.
According to reports from Toyo Keizai and highlighted by Automaton, Horii unveiled his ideas during the Google Cloud Next 2026 conference, describing AI not merely as a tool, but as a potential friend to each player.
Reflecting on the origins of Dragon Quest, Horii stated, “When I first created Dragon Quest, I wanted the townspeople’s dialogue to sound as much like real human speech as possible. Now, with AI technology, we can make these characters feel even more lifelike. However, merely replacing the townspeople with AI wouldn’t capture the fun of the game.”
He acknowledged that while engaging with AI chatbots might feel awkward for some, “if it’s a game character, the threshold is much lower. People may find it easier to discuss a variety of topics with them.”
Focusing on Square Enix’s collaboration with Google to create Oshaberi Slimey (Chatty Slimey), a Gemini-powered AI chatbot for Dragon Quest X, Horii expressed his desire for such AI companions to feature not only in Dragon Quest titles but across other franchises as well.
“It’s fantastic that [Slimey] can empathetically listen to players’ concerns and even engage in conversations unrelated to the game,” he remarked. “I envision AI characters as supporting friends who accompany players throughout their adventures, which could also extend to other series.”
Horii added that these AI companions could serve as a bridge for newcomers learning the game, stating, “Even after players step away, they might come to view these characters as friends.”
Regarding the long-awaited Dragon Quest 12, it’s been five years since Square Enix first mentioned its development, yet updates have been sparse. However, Horii reassured fans that the game is indeed still in the works.
Recently, a classification for a possible Nintendo Switch 2 version of Dragon Quest 11 S surfaced in Taiwan, with the listing emerging on April 29th.
