"Dragon Quest 11: The Search for a Time Gone By" was a decent, if standard, entry in the classic JRPG series. It was released in the West for PC and PS4 in 2018, and a significantly expanded version was released for Nintendo Switch the following year.

This Switch version was the real deal: the much-criticized soundtrack of the original game received the full (and much-desired) orchestral treatment. It also added a stunning 2D mode that lets you play the game in glorious 16-bit pixel art, new side quests, and a photo mode.

These features are finally coming to PC (and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One), with a few caveats. You have to buy the full version for $39.99 ($54.95 AUS), not the update. We contacted Square Enix, but so far there is no mention anywhere of free upgrades or inexpensive upgrade DLC options.

On the other hand, the graphics may not be exactly the same as the 2018 PC version. The game's FAQ advises, "Since this is a port of the Nintendo Switch version, the graphics will not be the same as the original PlayStation 4 version of Dragon Quest XI. There is no explicit mention of PC here.

This implies that the new Definitive Edition is a straight port of the Switch version, but the FAQ also states that "the resolution and frame rate are at least equal to the original PlayStation 4 version."

I don't think that's enough to worry about; the Switch version looks identical to the PS4 version, just with the usual resolution and frame rate drawbacks. However, I will be contacting Square Enix for more information. In the meantime, here's the Steam page. Dragon Quest XI S Seeking the Past - Definitive Edition will be released on December 4.

Here's the announcement trailer: