Square Enix is adding a Google Gemini-powered “Chatty Slimey” companion to Dragon Quest X

Square Enix has announced a partnership with Google to bring a new Gemini-powered chatbot companion to Dragon Quest X called “Chatty Slimey,” designed to talk with players and assist them in-game.

The details:

• According to VGC, the AI feature will be introduced to Dragon Quest X Online, the long-running, Japan-exclusive MMORPG that first launched in 2012, making it the first Square Enix title to integrate Google’s Gemini in a live game. The new companion, known as “Chatty Slimey,” is modeled after the series’ iconic Slime monster and will respond to players using AI-generated text and voice.
• The system can analyze what is happening on the game screen and react dynamically, such as commenting when the player defeats an enemy, when a rare item drops, or when equipment is upgraded.
• According to Dragon Quest X development lead Takashi Anzai, the goal is for Chatty Slimey to act as a personal companion so newcomers to the game do not feel lost or alone, offering hints on where to go next and guidance on progression. Series creator Yuji Horii has suggested that AI will have a “significant” impact on player experiences and could “dramatically transform all games” within the next three to five years.
• Square Enix will first roll out the AI assistant in a limited test in April, which players can sign up to prior to March 30. The announcement comes alongside Dragon Quest X Online Version 8.0, “Stray Children of Space and Time,” which is set to launch in Japan on June 25 for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, alongside an “All In One Package” covering Versions 1 through 8.