Square Enix teams with Google to create AI-powered MMO companion

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Square Enix is teaming up with Google to bring AI companions to Dragon Quest MMO players, powered by Google’s Gemini software.

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common in video game development, and developers are finding creative ways to use it. Sometimes, AI helps speed up the game creation process. Other times, it sparks debate online, especially when it changes the work of artists.

Square Enix is embracing artificial intelligence, hoping to use it for most of their game testing within the next two years. They’re also creating a new kind of AI-powered character for players to interact with in their games.

Square Enix is teaming up with Google and using its Gemini AI to build a helpful companion for players of Dragon Quest X, a popular online game only available in Japan. This AI will guide players through the game.

Dragon Quest X to get AI-powered NPC in partnership with Google

On March 23, 2026, Square Enix announced it’s working with Google to add an AI companion to its long-running online game, Dragon Quest X. This AI will be able to have conversations with players.

According to Head of Development Takashi Anzai, the AI companion, known as Chatty Slimey, is especially intended to assist players who are new to the game.

According to a report from Japanese outlet Sankei (translated by VGC), the game is designed to be welcoming to new players, acting as a helpful guide and preventing them from feeling lost or alone when they begin.

And there’s more! This NPC won’t just talk to new players; it will interact with everyone, regardless of their experience. For example, if you defeat a tough boss or discover a rare item, the NPC might start a conversation to congratulate you on your achievement.

This AI software learns from what’s happening on your screen to create responses and decide when to say them. Ideally, this will make each conversation feel unique, changing based on your choices and how the AI, Chatty, responds. Plus, Chatty might even sound different to each player!

Okay, so Dragon Quest X is this MMO that’s only really available in Japan, which is a bummer. It originally came out way back in 2012 for the Wii, but they’ve brought it to pretty much everything since then – I’ve seen it on 3DS, PS4, and even PC! It’s cool they’ve kept it going on so many platforms, even if I can’t easily play it here.

The game Where Winds Meet recently showcased AI characters that could have conversations with players. While this led to some interesting and original interactions through text, it also occasionally resulted in unpredictable and chaotic situations.

Players discovered ways to trick the game’s AI into finishing quests for them, which ruined the intended gameplay experience.

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2026-03-24 07:49