Unconfirmed Report: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Considering Character Customization Updates

According to unconfirmed reports, the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake may introduce new character appearance options, replacing the traditional male and female designations with "Appearance A" and "Appearance B" instead. Rumor has it that the respective voice actors for these new appearance options are Nobuyuki Hiyama and Yuko Minaguchi. This potential change is viewed as a more inclusive approach compared to the binary gender system of the original game.

According to a recent rumor, the upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is set to do away with the traditional male and female character designations, instead opting for a new system based on appearance. This potential change was brought to light after the game's spotlight during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, which showcased a brand-new trailer highlighting the classic gameplay elements reimagined in the HD-2D art style. The announcement also confirmed that remakes of Dragon Quest I and II are currently in development, with plans to release after Dragon Quest III's scheduled launch in November 2024.

Beyond the visual updates, the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is rumored to introduce several new features, such as performance modes for PlayStation 5, three difficulty settings, and various quality-of-life improvements like an auto-save function, the ability to save anywhere, and adjustable speed settings for movement and battles. The most intriguing rumor, however, suggests that the game will be adjusting how players choose their hero's appearance, potentially moving away from the binary gender system of the original.

A reliable leaker, ryokutya2089, has reported that the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will not feature the traditional male and female character designations, but rather an "Appearance A" and "Appearance B" selection. This change is accompanied by the reveal of the respective voice actors, with Nobuyuki Hiyama, known for voicing the Hero in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Dragon Quest Rivals, assigned to Appearance A, while Yuko Minaguchi will voice Appearance B. This potential move away from the binary gender system in the classic RPG is seen as a more inclusive approach for the highly anticipated HD-2D remake.

Rumored: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake to Introduce Gender-Neutral Character Appearance Options

Based on the recent leak, it appears that Square Enix and Team Asano are taking steps towards a more inclusive character creation system in the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Rather than the traditional male and female hero options, the game is rumored to offer "Appearance A" and "Appearance B" selections, a approach similar to the gender-neutral character choices seen in other prominent franchises like Pokémon and Splatoon.

This change is particularly noteworthy, as the original Dragon Quest III had historically referred to the playable hero as "Ortega's son," regardless of the player's selected gender. While later re-releases adjusted the language to be more reflective of the chosen gender, the male hero has typically been the designated protagonist, as evidenced by his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The potential shift to Appearance A and Appearance B in the HD-2D remake suggests a move towards a more inclusive representation of the hero. However, fans should keep in mind that this information is still unconfirmed, and they will have to wait for official updates from Square Enix to know the full details.