Dragon Quest IX Out in July in North America, Europe

Let's keep this story short-ish and sweet-esque: Nintendo has announced that Square Enix's RPG sensation, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, is set to come to the States on July 12 and Europe on July 23. Japan has been enjoying the ninth entry in the venerable Dragon Quest franchise since last July, so there was some speculation about whether the DS game would show up in English at all. I mean, some people were speculating. I was speculating. I like to speculate. I'm a speculator.
 
Actually, one possible reason that it took Square Enix so long to bring the game to the States is because...well, they aren't bringing the game to the States. Back in February, Square Enix announced that Nintendo would be publishing Dragon Quest IX in those places where people speak English, French, Spanish, German, and Queen's English. It's possible that the distribution deal pushed the U.S release back some time. Or maybe Square Enix doesn't like money.
 
(I have it on good authority that Square Enix does, in fact, like money. I can't tell you how I know that. Just trust me.)
 
Oh, and Square Enix recently announced its sales numbers for the March 2009 to March 2010 fiscal year, and Dragon Quest IX was the second best-selling game the company released, with 4.2 million copies sold in Japan. That's more copies in one region than Batman: Arkham Asylum, the third best-selling game Square Enix released in that same time period, sold in the entire world.
 
So, there you go. Slime beats Batman. 
 
Check out some new screens from the game! 
 

Gallery

 
Are you looking forward to Dragon Quest IX's summer release?