Square Enix just changed Kiefer’s fate in Dragon Quest VII — I didn’t see this coming

This Dragon Quest VII change actually matters for players

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined just dropped a new State of Play Japan trailer, and the headline isn’t the pretty diorama visuals-it’s Kiefer. Producer Takeshi Ichikawa confirmed the remake gives Kiefer a new conclusion, and the trailer shows an older, battle-ready Kiefer rejoining the squad for a sequence. For a game infamous among fans for letting its best bro leave early and never come back, that’s a seismic shift. It signals this isn’t a coat of paint; it’s Square Enix finally revisiting one of the series’ most debated story beats.

Key takeaways

• Kiefer gets a new conclusion and a playable “older Kiefer” episode-this is more than a cosmetic remake.
• Diorama-style presentation aims to modernize the PS1 classic while leaning into Toriyama’s timeless designs.
• Quality-of-life changes are promised; whether they fix DQVII’s slow start and shard backtracking will make or break this remake.
• Launches February 5, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, plus PC (Steam/Microsoft Store).

Breaking down the announcement

The trailer doesn’t hide the headline. The Hero, Maribel, and Ruff stumble upon a mysterious prisoner who turns out to be an older Kiefer-a callback loaded with emotional baggage if you know the original. He jumps into battle with fiery moves (the clip name-drops “Flamesplitter”) and even drops a buddy-cop line—“You and me, battling side-by-side again!”—that reads like Square Enix winking at decades of fan wishlists.

Ichikawa confirming a new conclusion for Kiefer suggests this arc isn’t just a one-off cameo. The original PS1 version from 2000 (and the later 3DS remake) turned Kiefer’s exit into a pivotal, bittersweet moment. It worked thematically, but plenty of players hated losing the fiery prince before the game’s back half. Reimagined appears to thread the needle: preserve the stakes, but give closure—and maybe a little catharsis.

Visually, the diorama approach lands somewhere between theatrical miniature and storybook, with richly lit scenes, sharp silhouettes, and Toriyama’s character work popping against dense scenery. It’s a smart angle for a remake that’s trying to feel handcrafted without chasing photorealism. The combat is still turn-based—no action-RPG detours—which keeps it firmly Dragon Quest at heart.

Why this matters now

Square Enix has been on a remake tear, but Dragon Quest remakes carry a different weight than, say, Final Fantasy VII. Dragon Quest is comfort food—change too much and you break the recipe. Dragon Quest VII in particular is the weird, sprawling, slow-burn entry: a coastal village kid, ancient tablets, islands restored from time, and a structure that feels like stitching together short stories across eras. The 3DS version already addressed some pain points, but it didn’t rewrite the big beats.

So why revisit it again? Two reasons. First, timing: with Dragon Quest XII still a question mark, keeping the brand in the conversation matters. Second, opportunity: DQVII has a passionate fanbase and a long-standing narrative friction point. If you’re going to sell “Reimagined” in 2026, give players something truly new to chew on. Kiefer’s reappearance does exactly that.

What gamers should expect (and demand)

Beyond Kiefer, the promise of “quality-of-life” changes needs to be more than buzzwords. DQVII is notorious for a glacial opening (hours before your first real fights in the PS1 version) and a shard-hunting loop that sent players scouring maps without great signposting. The 3DS remake helped, but in 2026 the bar is higher. Here’s what would actually move the needle:

• Streamlined shard discovery with better in-game hints and optional markers—let exploration feel intentional, not tedious.
• Battle speed options, auto-battle toggles, and animation skip to keep that classic turn-based flow snappy.
• Smarter fast travel and modern UI—quick vocation (job) swaps, clear stat previews, and sane inventory management.
• Difficulty tuning that respects story-first players while giving grinders and job optimizers room to flex.

The vocational job system is still one of DQVII’s best toys—letting you cook up busted class combos is half the fun—so surfacing its depth earlier without forcing hours of filler would be a big win. If “Reimagined” means anything, it should be about respecting your time while keeping the soul intact.

Platforms and performance thoughts

The game hits PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on February 5, 2026. The diorama style looks like it’ll scale well, but parity is the question. I’d expect 60fps to be the goal on PS5/Series/PC and a solid 30-60 depending on mode for Switch hardware, with the Switch 2 likely landing closer to the premium experience. If Square nails crisp UI and quick loads across the board, the art direction will do the heavy lifting.

The gamer’s perspective: cautious optimism

This caught my attention because DQVII has always felt one smart narrative decision away from being universally beloved instead of “the long one with the tablets.” Giving Kiefer meaningful closure—and a chance to throw hands again—could be that pivot. My worry? Overcorrecting. If the new conclusion undermines the bittersweet punch of his original choice, longtime fans will feel it immediately. The best case is an elegant, timeline-savvy reunion that adds resonance without cheapening the past.

Either way, this trailer finally tells us “Reimagined” means story ambition, not just a remaster with nicer lighting. Now Square Enix needs to show the mundane fixes that matter in a 100-hour JRPG: pace, signposting, and respect for your time. Do that, and this could be the definitive way to play one of the series’ strangest, most charming epics while we all wait for the next numbered entry.

TL;DR

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined isn’t just prettier—it’s rewriting Kiefer’s fate with an older-Kiefer episode and a new conclusion. If the QoL upgrades truly streamline the early hours and shard hunting, February 5, 2026 could deliver the definitive DQVII. Until we see the nuts and bolts, I’m excited—but keeping my expectations in check.