Dragon Quest IX for the DS is set to release in Japan this Saturday, and preorders are already at 2 million. According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, pre-orders for Dragon Quest IX Hoshizora no Mamoribito have topped 2 million. For comparison, first week sales of Dragon Quest VIII were about 3 million, and the game went on to sell almost 5 million copies.

Dragon Quest IX does not currently have a European or North American release date.