One of the most critical — and certainly controversial — figures in the history of video game music is no longer with us. Koichi Sugiyama passed away on September 30th. He was 90. His death, which was not publicly announced until earlier today, was due to a fatal instance of septic shock. Sugiyama was a popular music artist in the Japanese film and television circuit as far back as the 1960s, but his gaming-related breakout was inarguably 1986's Dragon Quest. He would go on to compose the soundtracks for not only every mainline sequel but a multitude of spin-offs as well. It is unknown at this time whether or not Sugiyama finished any pieces for the upcoming Dragon Quest XII, but at minimum, it's a near-certainty his legendary motifs will be implemented by any prospective replacement musicians. In gaming's earliest years, even RPG scores were little more than catchy beeps and blips. Koichi Sugiyama was a pioneer in his field, imbuing Dragon Quest with robust, emotional tracks that became instantly synonymous with Japan's most beloved role-playing franchise. Sugiyama's work earned the composer multiple high-end awards, and his monumental legacy has been repeatedly recognized by the Japanese government. That legacy is not without significant controversy.

Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai -A Hero's Bonds- begins official service today on iOS and Android devices. The game is based on the anime bearing the same name, a spinoff of Square Enix's Dragon Quest series. Defining itself as a "team action RPG" a player avatar and three characters participate in combat that features dynamic battle sequences. Characters can be customized with the "Soul Crystal" system, which emphasizes the bond each share with each other. Combining multiple soul crystals will yield even greater results. You can read more in our hands-on impressions here. Launch Campaigns Launch Celebration Treasure Hunt: Players will have the chance to obtain equipment for the Avan Strash special move in the Launch Celebration Treasure Hunt, available from now until 5:59 AM on October 14, 2021. Powerful Characters 'Avan' and 'Hyunckel' available: Players can add these characters to their teams via different in-game events. In the quest, “The Hero Tutor Returns!”, players can team up with Avan in his Dermline Island outfit available from now until 5:59 AM on November 27, 2021.The “Action is Virtue: The Solitary Swordsman” event will allow players to team up with Hyunckel (Disciple of Avan) from 6:00 AM on September 30, 2021 until 5:59 AM on October

Following its closed beta test some months back, Square Enix will be releasing Dragon Quest Dai: A Hero's Bonds to the public starting September 28. The announcement comes packed with a new trailer which shows off the team-based mobile action RPG. Back in April we had a go at said beta and had a chance to peruse the game's features including character creation and the various story modes. For more on that front, check out our impressions here. Dragon Quest Dai: A Hero's Bonds can currently be pre-registered for on both iOS and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2iqias8qCA&t=2s

A brand-new limited time collaboration event has officially begun in Dragon Quest Tact, a free-to-play tactical mobile RPG from Square Enix. Starting today and running until September 12, players will be able to obtain exclusive rewards and take part in a special themed quest set in the world of Dragon Quest II. During the collaboration period, players will be able to do the following: Recruit Madusa, an event-exclusive monster that debuted in Dragon Quest II. Madusa is a one-eyed monster that appears to be made up entirely of snakes.Explore the world of Dragon Quest II in a brand-new quest that will let players venture into various areas from the game.Earn special equipment such as the Aurora Blade, Moonbrooke Staff, Mink Mantle, Magic Armour and more.Obtain medals to exchange for rewards. In Dragon Quest Tact, players must stop the evil the plagues the world of Orchesterra by joining forces with familiar Dragon Quest monsters. Recruit these monsters, build your team and engage in tactical combat on grid-like battle maps to save the world from certain doom! Dragon Quest Tact is available to download now on iOS and Android devices. Collaboration Banner Dragon Quest Tact (Android) First Hour Gameplay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTc5hc7uOY

Rounding out six promised game announcements today, Square Enix finally revealed the next mainline title in the Dragon Quest series - or its logo, at least. Yes, Dragon Quest XII is actually happening and it's being planned to launch with a simultaneous worldwide release. According to game designer Yuji Horii, this will be a Dragon Quest aimed at adults - with darker, mature content that will have players make an important decisions. The battle system and traditional Command system is also being updated, although details as to how remain unknown. They're not going to get rid of commands, however, but they are changing things. They have some prototypes currently in development. Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate is set to be directed by Takeshi Uchikawa and is being developed using Unreal Engine 5 with the team taking on a variety of challenges. The story is complete and only needed to be implemented - the game will be big so there's still time to go before it's complete. As such, Square Enix is currently recruiting new staff to help work on the game. Catch the logo teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUAmVLMjGQw

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age characters Erik and Mia headline yet another spin-off coming to the Dragon Quest series - Dragon Quest Treasures. While platforms and a launch date remain vague, Square Enix is planning to release the game worldwide. Important themes the game will focus on include Erik and Mia's childhood and treasure hunting. It's an RPG but different from the traditional ones. While platforms remain unannounced, the team is working closely with Yuji Horii to make a worldwide simultaneous release happen. Fans can expect more information at a later date. Catch the announcement trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrH43AbDRyg

Square Enix and AMATA K.K. and Team Asano headline the next title announced during Dragon Quest Day - Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, planned for consoles and a worldwide release some time in the future. Combining pixel art with 3D effects, the HD-2D style creates a sense of atmosphere and depth unseen. The goal is to give players the chance to experience the game through fresh eyes for both old school fans and newcomers alike. Catch the announcement trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkbeCsEDrk

Continuing today's announcements, Square Enix revealed a new experience focusing on Dragon Quest X. Titled Dragon Quest X Offline, it's a new standalone title featuring a new visual style for unknown platforms. It's a new version of the game you won't need an internet connection to play. The game was created as an easy to pick-up-and-play title, super-deformed visuals in a charming and nostalgic style. Further details will be revealed in future announcements. It's currently unknown if the game will be released overseas, however Japanese fans can look forward to the game sometime in 2022. Catch the announcement trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXOE7Qhg9CY

Kicking off a series of Dragon Quest-related announcements, Square Enix revealed a new mobile title heading to Japan and overseas in 2021. Titled Dragon Quest Keshikeshi, it's a puzzle game that features familiar and classic Dragon Quest characters and monsters as erasers. Stay tuned for more information before launch later this year and catch the announcement trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw1MOBdW6m8

On May 4th, 2021, Dragon Quest Builders 2 arrives on Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S through backwards compatibility, and Windows 10 PC. It will also be coming to Xbox Game Pass for console, cloud, and PC platforms. Originally released on PlayStation 4 and Windows PC back in 2019 (with a Steam port to follow later that year), Dragon Quest Builders 2 marries a Minecraft-style survival and free-building game with Dragon Quest series staples. It's a peanut butter-and-jelly type of discovery, one that manages to be more than the sum of its parts rather than a quick cash-in -- and easily approachable for those unfamiliar with either title. You an check out our review here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH8FvK9Hs64