Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Switch physical version swiftly sells out in Japan 

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake has been taking the world by storm ever since it was released last Thursday (November 14, 2024). The popularity of the franchise and the fact that the title is a remake of the beloved 1988 classic RPG led to physical copies of the Nintendo Switch version selling out in local stores in Japan: 

Apart from the fact that physical game copies tend to sell well in Japan, the cover of the Japanese Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake physical edition is reversible.You can swap between the new cover art and the classic Super Famicom box art featuring the late manga artist Akira Toriyama’s illustrations.  

While the reversible cover is also available for the PlayStation 5 physical version of the game, it seems that more people prefer the Nintendo Switch version instead. This is likely because more people have a Switch, and the Switch’s portability make it suited for playing retro RPGs. Another reason could that Nintendo Switch’s clear game cases allow people to see both covers without having to switch them out, unlike the PS5’s dark blue cases.

 The temporary shortage of physical Switch copies has left many eager players with few choices- buy the digital version, find a scalped copy on auction sites, or wait a little. Even those ordering on Amazon Japan today will have to wait until November 25 for it to arrive.

The problem got so bad that users on auction and resale sites like Mercari have been selling physical Switch copies for more than the list price of 7,678 yen (around $49.71 USD). While the shortage of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake physical Switch copies is likely to die down soon, there are still a lot of people who have yet to get hold of a copy.