The announcement that Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition would be coming to more platforms was a nice surprise. The enhanced version of the game launched on Nintendo Switch last September, where it received praise from critics and players alike for making an already great game even better. Following a year of Switch-exclusivity, it's great that more people will be able to access this must-play title for fans of JRPGs. However, one platform in particular is noteworthy: Xbox One.

Revealed during the pre-show to this week's Xbox Games Showcase, Dragon Quest XI S will be the first title from the iconic series to ever appear on a Microsoft platform. Even better, the game will be come to Game Pass on the same day it launches. And while a port of a year-old upgrade of a 2017 game may not seem to be huge news, it actually has larger implications for Microsoft, ones that could address issues the company has had with its consoles.

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Many Western gamers don't realize just how huge the Dragon Quest franchise is in Japan. The series is one of gaming's oldest and more important IPs, influencing virtual every other RPG that followed it, like Final Fantasy, Pokémon and Chrono Trigger. But while it's mostly flown under the radar in North America and Europe, Dragon Quest a cultural phenomenon in Japan. For evidence, look no further than last year's Nintendo Direct during E3, where the company announced two new fighters coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While Western fans were thrilled by the addition of long-requested character Banjo Kazooie, it was the Hero from Dragon Quest that really excited Japanese fans.

Dragon Quest XI S coming to Xbox One could address an issue Microsoft has long had -- the indifference of the Japanese market. Xbox consoles have never sold well in Japan, with many Japanese players uninterested in the games it offers and other criticizing the consoles and controllers' designs. Of course, bringing Japan's favorite series to your platform won't in itself move consoles -- especially when the game is also available on every other system -- but it is a big step in appealing to Japanese gamers.

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This means that, if the company can release exclusive games that also entice players, that Dragon Quest fans will still be able to play their favorite franchise should they decide to make the jump into the Xbox ecosystem. And while the game was only confirmed for current-gen consoles, with Microsoft's commitment to Game Pass and backwards compatibility, those who do upgrade to the Series X should still be able to play.

This port also helps to deal with a more worldwide critique of Xbox. Many have felt that the platform, while it has a lot of appeal for hardcore gamers who like online multiplayer games, doesn't offer much for those who seek engaging single-player content. Dragon Quest XI S offers a massive game and a compelling story, hopefully indicating that Xbox's library moving forward will be diverse and full of games that interest different kinds of players. This is something that could tips the scales for someone who is intrigued by Microsoft's hardware and services but is less interested in the grittier and more intense games it is associated with. While having Dragon Quest on its console won't solve all of Microsoft's problems, it is a nice indication that the company is addressing them.

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