Woke Western Ideologies Force Square Enix Censorship in 'Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake'

The upcoming Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake has found itself at the center of a growing controversy. Recent remarks from the game's creator, Yuji Horii, suggest that Square Enix’s decision to remove gender options and alter character designs weren't born from internal desires at Square Enix, but rather - from pressure imposed by American regulations. These changes have caused a huge backlash among fans, who've accuse the company of pandering to modern Western ideologies.

In a recent interview at the Tokyo Game Show (above), Horii discussed these changes, implying that they were necessary to comply with international regulations—particularly those from the United States. He mentioned that too much skin exposure would lead to a higher age rating, limiting the game's potential audience.

“If there’s too much exposure, the age rating goes up. It means we won’t be able to sell it as an all-ages product”

His frustration with these constraints was clear as day and honestly refreshing to finally hear the truth in all this, as he admitted to not fully understanding why such extreme measures were necessary. Me too, Yuji. Me too...

The decision to remove the choice between male and female characters was another point of contention. Horii revealed that Western regulations had forced them to abandon the traditional gender options, instead labeling characters as “Type 1” and “Type 2.” This change has baffled both developers and fans alike:

“I really wonder, who’s even complaining about this?”

Horii questioned, explaining his confusion surrounding these mandates.

The impact of American regulations on Japanese game development has grown more visible in recent years, and Horii’s comments suggest that this influence is more pervasive than many had initially given it credit for... which is saying something.

Former Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Kazuhiko Torishima echoed these concerns, describing Western compliance as a kind of "evil disguised as good." He pointed out that the United States' narrow-minded approach to content regulation—especially regarding sex education and age ratings—has had a trickle-down effect on Japan. The pressure to categorize content for age groups and avoid potential lawsuits has forced many Japanese companies, including Square Enix, into uncomfortable positions, altering their products to unnecessarily meet these foreign standards.

I've been particularly upset by the removal of male and female character options, which have instead been replaced by “Type 1” and “Type 2” labels. But of course - I'm not alone. For many, this change undermines much of the charm and traditions from the Dragon Quest franchise, leading to calls for boycotts and angry forum posts. This sentiment echoes across various online communities, where fans feel that the game’s alterations are emblematic of a much larger, concerning trend in modern gaming.

Adding fuel to the fire, the remake's character designs have also come under scrutiny. Some players have noticed significant changes, including the removal of exaggerated features from trolls and added clothing on the female hero. Fans like Perma Banned on X argue that these alterations are not just stylistic but driven by corporate pandering to Western interests. He tweeted:

The people managing Dragon Quest were asked questions in Tokyo Games Show about the Remake of Dragon Quest 3 and the censorship. Their response is basically, “I don’t get why we had to censor, its stupid and no one likes it…but the Westerners and Square Enix are making us do it for the global audience.” Of course they did. And now the kicker is, its no longer “global release is more censored than the Japanese release”. But even the Japanese players only have access to the same game as global. As in everything’s censored. The “global audience” neo-Evangelicals from California, as obnoxious as always.

Then there was Manga Lawyer, who wrote,

"We are about to witness the death of Dragon Quest due to a combination of American gender insanity Cult and the CERO rating. The creators are practically screaming at the top of their lungs: You're killing entertainment."

He continues:

People often say, 'But you support artists like Yoshitaka Amano who bend gender.' That's right—it's appealing because it's rare, a beautiful art form. Claiming everyone is the same destroys uniqueness. You don't change biology for that. Not everything is gender politics. Morons

This situation serves as yet another reminder of how the gaming industry is being shaped—not by the developers and creators who bring these stories to life—but by external forces who hold the power to determine what can and cannot be shared with audiences. This is a problem. A problem that constantly requires attention. As soon as we look away, they try to steal back what isn't theirs.

You all know who I'm referring to...

The ideologically-driven woke narrative. The real evil here.

A Personal Apology to Square Enix

I want to take this moment to apologize to Square Enix. In my initial take, I had wrongfully assumed that their internal "ethics" department was solely responsible for the censorship and changes made to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

While the existence of this department definitely poses a problem for future projects and may still even influence some levels of censorship, it's become clear from Horii’s comments that Western ideologies and the rating boards are the main culprits behind these changes. It’s the full autonomous control these ratings boards wield that has created a narrative of censorship, particularly when it comes to dictating what can or cannot be shown in all-ages content. Square Enix, like many other developers, is simply responding to these outside pressures in order to keep their games accessible to broader audiences, which... unfortunately has led to decisions that feel out of touch with the original spirit of the game.

Horii’s candid discussion about these issues highlights just how much creative freedom is being stifled by these regulatory bodies, and I believe it’s important to acknowledge that Square Enix is not entirely to blame for the changes. The real issue lies in the overarching influence of Western cultural standards that are being forced upon foreign companies, leading to these unwelcome alterations in beloved franchises.

~Smash