Dragon Quest X will be an online-focussed RPG... on Wii... and Wii U!

Square-Enix has finally unveiled Dragon Quest X, and yes, it is still a Wii game, but it's not short of surprises, the first being that it will be the first Dragon Quest game to be fully developed internally at Square-Enix.

To much shock, the game will have a huge online multiplayer focus. Details are still sketchy, but it seems like Dragon Quest X will have the huge single-player campaign that you can complete on your own with NPCs - just like fans are used to, but will also provide major expansions to the social features seen in Dragon Quest IX. You can team up with real players from around the world to journey on your quest together, with a quick log-in/log-out feature.

While not really a MMO, the game will have some MMO elements. During a live play session, Andriasang noted that you could see other players fighting in the world. You can also help other players who have fallen. Like in Dragon Quest IX a wealth of post-launch quests and events will be released to players. The developers are aiming to make this a joy to be able to "play forever".

Further online-centric features include a new job system, the ability to let your character be used by friends when you're not playing and the ability to create and decorate your own house for them to visit. You can also create weapons and receive bonuses when other players use them.

Oh, and there was the little matter of the game also being available for Wii U. This little titbit wasn't made fully clear; whether the Wii U version would be an individual release or whether the Wii game would merely have graphical enhancements when played on a Wii U. What is confirmed is that those who start the game on their Wii would be able to continue on Wii U when they pick up the new console. The online play is cross-platform between Wii and Wii U too. If that wasn't enough, executive producer Yuji Horii said that the development team were looking into 3DS support, such as where you could transfer your character to other people via StreetPass.

Square-Enix also vaguely announced a beta of the game, but we don't know anything more specific than that right now. The phrase "USB memory" was tossed about, presumably referring to Wii players.

The game is due for a release in Japan in 2012. In 2008, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confirmed that the company was committed to personally pushing Dragon Quest X in the west.