Square Enix has announced a partnership with Google to deploy the Gemini AI chatbot in Dragon Quest X through a 'Chatty Slimey' companion. The Japan-exclusive MMORPG, originally released in 2012, will feature this AI to engage players in conversations, generate voices, and analyze game screen information. Development head Takashi Anzai described it as a way to make new players feel less lonely.
Dragon Quest X, Square Enix's MMORPG that launched as a Wii game in 2012 and remains Japan-exclusive despite a 2022 offline conversion, is receiving an update powered by Google's Gemini AI. The announcement came from a press event over the past weekend, as reported by VGC and Japanese publication Sankei on March 23, 2026. The new feature introduces a 'Chatty Slimey' companion, depicted as the series' iconic blue Slime, which players can interact with via chat functions. According to Sankei, 'When a player talks to Slimey using the chat function, it automatically generates voices and engages in conversation. The AI also analyses information from the game screen, and Slimey may even initiate conversations when a powerful enemy is defeated or a rare item is obtained.' Takashi Anzai, head of development, pitched the companion as a means to make new players feel 'less lonely' in the multiplayer environment. Details on how the AI will be limited or guided remain unclear, with no specifics shared yet on implementation. Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii has stated he expects AI to change all games in the next three to five years. This follows other games experimenting with AI chatbots, such as Where Winds Meet and Fortnite.
