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Dragon Quest Tests Gemini-Powered Chatty Slimey Companion in Beta

Horii says the Gemini chatbot could move NPCs toward feeling like true companions.

Overview

  • Square Enix and Google are piloting a Gemini AI chatbot called Chatty Slimey inside Dragon Quest X, a Japan-only online role-playing game.
  • Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii said at Google Cloud Next the goal is a friendly companion that answers in natural, human-like ways.
  • The current build reacts to what is on screen in real time and supports voice conversations through Gemini Live.
  • A trial began in late April, there is no full release date, and Dragon Quest X Version 8.0 is scheduled for Japan on June 25.
  • Early write-ups flag privacy and user-experience concerns, with at least one reporter saying they would switch the feature off, highlighting doubts about claims of AI “empathy.”