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Dragon Quest Builders 2

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Dragon Quest Builders 2.

To do:

  • More in-depth sourcing from original Japanese articles is likely appropriate.
  • More in depth research/comparisons on other screenshots where area differences may not be evident. (Check the minimaps!)
  • There are early item icons littered throughout all of these.

To do:

  • Dev timeline use the one from the "news" part of the official page
  • Dates section
    • See all the pages in the official page for images
    • See all the streams, document those
    • In the streams there's commentary on images
  • Do a section comparing Minimaps across time
  • Do a section comparing prerelease images that are similar

Dragon Quest Builders 2 seems to have gone through quite a few changes in development after it began previewing publicly; areas, items, and character designs differ slightly to significantly to the final release in several screenshots.

Note that some area differences may be simply due to the developers showing off certain mechanics, and are possibly not indicative of actual level design differences-remember, the game is a Minecraft-like!

"News" timeline

In the official Dragon Quest Builders 21 webpage, there is a "news" section that contains all the updates to the pages. This also means we know the date each picture in said pages was taken around.

To do:
We're working on translating this. Help is appreciated

To do:
Should this go in "revisional differences"?
Post-release updates (DLC content and game updates)

Day

Japanese

Translation

December 2018

21

「みんなで好きなモノつくろうリレー」特設ページを更新しました！

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ジャンプフェスタ2019 ステージ配信視聴はコチラ！

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特定のプロダクトコードで正しいアイテム以外がダウンロードできてしまう不具合について重要なお知らせを公開しました。
本件に関するお問合せにつきましては、「スクウェア・エニックス サポートセンター」までご連絡ください。

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26

「お正月パック」 12月27日（木）無料配信開始！

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アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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27

「みんなで好きなモノつくろうリレー」特設ページを更新しました！

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January 2019

09

「スクウェア・エニックス カフェ」コラボを好評につき延長決定！

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アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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11

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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15

追加DLC第1弾「和風パック」は2月下旬発売予定！

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18

「商品情報」＞「関連商品」を更新しました！

「Product Information」 >

30

「世界観」＞「かいたく島」を公開しました！

「Worldview」 >

「世界観」＞「無料アップデート情報①」を公開しました！

「Worldview」 >

February 2019

08

公式生放送「追加DLC第1弾 和風パックお披露目会」2/13(水)配信！

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14

「追加DLC」を公開しました！

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22

「世界観」＞「無料アップデート情報②」を公開しました！

「Worldview」 >

27

「追加DLC」を更新しました！

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28

「デイリーランキングハイライトVol.1」「コンテストハイライトVol.1」「コンテストハイライトVol.2」を公開しました！

---

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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「和風パック」発売記念！DL版本編セール実施中！

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追加DLC第1弾「和風パック」発売！

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March 2019

06

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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14

「追加DLC第1弾「和風パック」お披露目会」「ビルダーズスクール課外授業 ジャンプフェスタ2019」を公開しました！

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「ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ２ 建築ガイドブック」4/26(金)発売予定！

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「商品情報」＞「関連商品」を更新しました！

「Product Information」 >

公式生放送「追加DLC第2弾「水族館パック」お披露目会」3/20(水)配信！

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22

「追加DLC」＞「追加DLC第2弾「水族館パック」」を公開しました！

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「世界観」＞「無料アップデート情報③」を公開しました！

「Worldview」 >

28

「追加DLC第2弾「水族館パック」お披露目会」「デイリーランキングハイライトVol.2」「コンテストハイライトVol.3」「コンテストハイライトVol.4」「コンテストハイライトVol.5」を公開しました！

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アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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各種購入特典の無料配信を開始しました！

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追加DLC第2弾「水族館パック」発売！

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April 2019

11

DQB2紹介シートを公開しました！

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16

「商品情報」＞「関連商品」を更新しました！

「Product Information」 >

25

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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けいじばん特別コンテストを公開しました！

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May 2019

15

公式生放送「追加DLC第3弾「近代建築パック」お披露目会」5/22(水)配信！

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23

「世界観」＞「無料アップデート情報④」を公開しました！

「Worldview」 >

「追加DLC」＞「追加DLC第3弾「近代建築パック」」を公開しました！

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30

「追加DLC第3弾「近代建築パック」お披露目会」「コンテストハイライトVol.6」「コンテストハイライトVol.7」「コンテストハイライトVol.8」「デイリーランキングハイライトVol.3」を公開しました！

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「商品情報」を更新しました！

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アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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追加DLC第3弾「近代建築パック」発売！

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June 2019

18

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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July 2019

03

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

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16

けいじばん特別コンテストを公開しました！

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August 2019

01

公式生放送「最終無料アップデートお披露目会」8/8(木)21:00～放送！

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09

世界販売本数が110万本を突破しました！

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アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

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けいじばん特別コンテストの結果を発表しました！

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最終無料アップデート情報を公開しました！

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September 2019

30

「コンテストハイライトVol.14」、「デイリーランキングハイライトVol.6」を公開しました！

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November 2019

05

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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たっぷり遊べる体験版を配信開始しました！

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19

Steam®版『ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ２　破壊神シドーとからっぽの島』2019年12月11日(水)発売！

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December 2019

05

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

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Steam®版「たっぷり遊べる体験版」配信開始！

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公式生放送「冬のけいじばんコンテスト開催発表 & Steam®版をプレイしてみよう！会」12/12(木)21:00～放送！

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11

Steam®版、本日発売！

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13

けいじばん特別コンテストを公開しました！

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January 2020

16

公式生放送「冬のけいじばん特別コンテスト結果発表会」1/22(水)21:00～放送！

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20

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

---

24

けいじばん特別コンテストの結果を発表しました！

---

31

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

---

March 2020

19

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

---

June 2020

19

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

---

September 2020

24

「商品情報」を更新しました！

---

December 2020

04

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

---

「商品情報」を更新しました！

---

April 2021

27

「商品情報」を更新しました！

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28

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

---

May 2021

04

「ビルダーズ２チャンネル」を更新しました！

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June 2021

28

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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August 2021

11

アップデート情報を更新いたしました。

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Development Timeline

To do:
Scrutinize the linked early livestream footage
  • August 2017- Dragon Quest Builders 2 is announced to be in development during the 2017 Dragon Quest Summer Festival.2 The game was streamed, marking the earliest footage of development. At this time in development, the game still uses a significant number of assets from the first game.3
    • The game is given a tentative release window of "summer 2018", a release target it does not meet.4 The final game released in December, barely making the 2018 window at all.
  • February 2018 - More footage of the game is shown, though the terrain generation (mainly the weird square-chunk mountains) and models are still from the first game.56
  • March 2018 - A plot teaser about Malroth playing a role in the story and artwork of the new main characters is shown in Weekly Jump. 7 This issue claims the main character is descended from the first game's player character, something that isn't alluded to in the final game.
  • April 2018 - The Japanese website goes live, featuring several preliminary screenshots of the starting area of the game.89
    • Malroth as the player's companion is shown off for the first time in Weekly Jump, with some more screenshots of the game's starting area.10 Soon after, the official website updates with higher quality versions of screenshots shown in the magazine.11
    • The game's introductory sequence is teased, showing Malroth using his blue model in the opening narration segment.12 Once again the Japanese website updates with higher quality screenshots a couple days later.13
    • Early screenshots of the Isle of Awakening are shown.1415
  • May 2018 - Developer stream showing off the Isle of Awakening and character customization as well as discussion of DQB1 save data bonuses.16

April 2018

==April 2Gematsu April 2 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

To do:
Retake screenshot from final game during the same time of day/weather conditions.

Isle of Awakening#

Isle of Awakening - Teleportal Cave

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Isle of Awakening - Teleportal Cave

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Isle of Awakening - Beach

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Isle of Awakening - Beach

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Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Temple

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Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Temple

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The Hairy Hermit's mountaintop temple, one of the first areas in the game the player encounters. Compared to the final game, it is rather sparsely constructed, even accounting for its intentionally dilapidated state. The terrain of the mountain itself was also reworked for final.

Isle of Awakening - Bildrick Beach

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Isle of Awakening - Bildrick Beach

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The glove icon, beach layout, minimap, and camera angle are all different. (Camera cannot be placed there in the final game)

Isle of Awakening - Creatrix Mountaintop

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Isle of Awakening - Creatrix Mountaintop

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Different mountaintemple layout. Has first game default expression.

Minimap#

The developers released the DQB2 page on April 2. Here, an image showing news has the Isle of Awakening minimap as a background. Since the news kept being updated, but the background stayed, we can use it to reconstruct the minimap from the build of the game shown in April 2.

Note that the tiles during this era covered a 16x16 block area, instead of the 8x8 they coverin the final game.

Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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Apr 2 201819
Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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Apr 2 201820

In the debug build, there's a testing island that used an early version of the Isle of Awakening as a base. If you remove the structures (dioramas), you can see something that looks closer to the April 2 island, and thus, a good point of reference as to how the minimap of the April 2 island would be generated in the final game.

For CG Test - Minimap

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Apr 2 2018
For CG Test - Minimap

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Apr 2 2018

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - East of base Bildrick

Pre-release

21

Final

Furrowfield - Southeast forest Creatrix

Pre-release

Final
Furrowfield - North of Base mountain

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22
Furrowfield - North of Base mountain

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23
Furrowfield - Creatrix Building

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Furrowfield - Creatrix Building

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Furrowfield - Bildrick Building (North of base)

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Furrowfield - Bildrick Building (North of base)

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Furrowfield - Slime (South of base)

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Furrowfield - Slime (South of base)

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Minimap#

Using the images from Furrowfield, this is the state of the minimap in the build shown at this date. Note that the tile minimap covers twice the amount of ground compared to the final tile coverage. Bordering tiles might have extra data like trees, mountains or shore borders not seen.

Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 2 2018
Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 2 2018

==April 8Gematsu April 8 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Isle of Awakening#

Isle of Awakening - Amnesia Cutscene

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Final Amnesia Cutscene

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Final

Japanese

シドー「それが…… 実はな
 ここに来(く)るまでの記憶(きおく)が　まるでないんだ。
 どうやらオレは　キオクソーシツってヤツらしい。

シドー「……それが
 ここに来(く)るまでの記憶(きおく)が　まるでないんだ。
 どうやら　キオクソーシツって　ヤツらしい。

Translation

Malroth: About that... the truth is,
 my memories since coming here are pretty much
 none.
 Seems like im one of those 'amnesiac' guys.

Malroth: About that...
 my memories since coming here are pretty much
 none.
 Seems like that 'amnesiac' thing.

Localisation

Malroth

Well, I'm... Actually, I don't know what I do. I woke up on this island, but I can't remember anything before that. My memory's completely blank.
Isle of Awakening - Prologue Post-slime fight cutscene

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Isle of Awakening - Prologue Post-slime fight cutscene

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Final

Japanese

シドー「はーーーっはっはっは！
 なかなか　いい　ふりごこちだぜ！
 これなら　ハデに　魔物(まもの)を　ぶっ倒(たお)せそうだ！

シドー「ハーーーッハッハッハ！
 なかなか　いい　ふりごこちだぜ！
 これなら　ハデに　魔物(まもの)を　ぶっ倒(たお)せそうだ！

Translation

Localisation

Malroth: Mua ha ha! I like it! No, I LOVE it! Squishing slimes will be so much more satisfying now!

Malroth

Ha ha ha! I like it! No, I LOVE it! Squishing slimes will be so much more satisfying now!

The laugh is changed in the release. It seems the "っはっは" laugh is translated as either "Bwa hah hah" for Bonanzo or "Muah hah hah" for monsters. So evil laugh.

Isle of Awakening - Prologue Malroth fails to build

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Isle of Awakening - Prologue Malroth fails to build

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Pre-release

Final

Japanese

シドー「チクショウ どうなってやがる！
 オレには　物(もの)を作(つく)るチカラがないのか？
 オレは　ビルダーには　なれないってことかよ！？

シドー「クソッ！　どうなってやがる！
 オレには　物(もの)を作(つく)るチカラが　ないのか？
 ビルダーには　なれないってことかよ！

Translation

Malroth: Damn it, what the hell is going on!
 Do I lack the ability to make things?
 Does that mean I can't become a builder?!

Malroth: Shit! What the hell is going on!
 Do I lack the ability to make things?
 So I can't become a builder after all!

Localisation

Malroth

Gah! Why can't I make things!? At this rate, I'll never be a builder!

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - North of Base Malroth

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DQB2 final Malroth Furrowfield April.png
Furrowfield - North of Base Malroth

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25
Furrowfield - Rosie fight high five

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Furrowfield - Rosie fight high five

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Furrowfield - West of bog (path)

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Furrowfield - West of bog (path)

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The area corresponding to this image has house ruins in the final game, and the orange mountain does not reach as far west as in prerelease.

Furrowfield - Path to windmill

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Furrowfield - Path to windmill

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The trunk seems to be the wood from the final game. The tree Malroth destroys is not found there in the final game.

Minimap#

Using the images from Furrowfield, this is the state of the minimap in the build shown at this date. Note that the tile minimap covers twice the amount of ground compared to the final tile coverage. Bordering tiles might have extra data like trees, mountains or shore borders not seen.

This minimap only has the mountain tiles changed compared to the April 2 minimap

Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 8 2018
Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 8 2018

==April 16Gematsu April 16 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Tutorial#

Tutorial - Hargon Exposition

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Tutorial - Hargon Exposition

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To do:
reestructure this to move half to the "comparing images from different stages" section, i think

Hargon's throne room uses blocks from the first game instead of the custom ones used in the final version. Particularly notable since he uses the Dragonlord's decor, despite having no connection to the character (Note: DQIII has tied both Hargon and the Dragonlord, but that game released years later, and it is unclear when that retcon was written or even if it WAS a retcon or always intended). These blocks are obtainable in the final game, but aren't featured prominently during the story. The August revision of this scene still uses the older castle blocks from the first game, but now has custom banners for Hargon's faction and a new model for his throne. Hargon's throne seems to have been scaled slightly smaller in the August footage.

In the earliest screenshot, Malroth seems to be using his model from Dragon Quest Heroes here, another game developed by Koei Tecmo; the primary tells-aside from the color-are the golden chain necklace and fang shape. Later, in August, Malroth's model appears to have still been under revision. He appears in a developer stream with a very roughly modeled skull necklace and altered shading on his face textures.

Malroth's final model matches his design from the original Dragon Quest II. Judging by artwork on the official site, Malroth's intended design was always going to be the one used in the final version and the early model was always a placeholder.

Tutorial - Jail Cell

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Tutorial - Jail Cell

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There's only 1 ghost in the final game, and HP is low for the 'healing' tutorial.

Tutorial - Whitebones Dialogue

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Tutorial - Whitebones Dialogue

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Whitebones' animation is different in the final game.

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - Base

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Furrowfield - Base

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What appears to be a very early version of Furrowfield's town, featuring an entirely different layout and a dead tree not present in the final game. Judging by the mini medal shine in the distance, and assuming it is in the same relative orientation to the town as the final game, the Builder's Bell is on the opposite side of town compared to the final version.

Furrowfield - Clayton's Farm

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Furrowfield - Clayton's Farm

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There are two houses in this area. Despite the farm looking completely different, the two houses were simply rotated and moved around for the final build. Here are comparisons for both houses.

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==April 22Gematsu April 22 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Isle of Awakening#

Isle of Awakening - Call to Mountaintop cutscene

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Isle of Awakening - Call to Mountaintop cutscene

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In the final game, the cutscene has the camera at a higher position, and the text is both on the black text box.

Pre-release

Final

Japanese

さあ　山(やま)の頂(いただき)まで　来(く)るがよい。

*「ふおっ　ふおっ　ふおーーい！ こっちぢゃぞい！

Translation

Localisation

Come make thy way toward the mountain's summit

*: Ho ho ho! This way, young whip-whip-whippersnappers!
Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Temple Tablets

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Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Temple Tablets

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Japanese

Translation

シドー「なんだこれ…
 チンケな　石(いし)の板(いた)だが
　どこか　ふしぎなチカラを　感(かん)じるぞ…。

Malroth: What is this...
It's just a boring stone slab,
but I feel a strange power from somewhere...

Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Temple Voice

Pre-release

Final

Japanese

Translation

すべての試練(しれん)を やりとげたとき
 汝(なんじ)は マスタービルダーとなる。

When all trials are completed,
thou shalt be a Master Builder

Closeups of the tablets at the Hermit's temple, several of these do not appear in the final game at all. It also appears the Hairy Hermit may not actually exist at this point in development, considering he appears in what is likely the equivalent scene to this in the final version.

Isle of Awakening - Beach Building Challenge

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Isle of Awakening - Beach Building Challenge

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Japanese

Localisation

シドー「とうやら あれが
 あの声(こえ)が 言(い)ってやがった
 石柱(せきちゅう)の試練(しれん)って ヤツみたいだな。

Malroth

Hmmm... Judging from that hammer on the top, I'd say it was one of those Builder's Beacons the voice from the mountain was prattling on about.

A closeup of an early version of the statues at mini medal puzzles. This is cutscene 69, unused. Full scene can be seen in the unused text page.

Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Windbraker

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Isle of Awakening - Mountaintop Windbraker

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Another shot of the Hairy Hermit's rather sparse temple, showing more differing landscape of the mountain under it.

Isle of Awakening - Beach cliffs chisel

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Isle of Awakening - Beach cliffs chisel

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Isle of Awakening - 1st view beach slime

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Final

Minimap#

The only differences between this minimap and the April 2 version, is that tiles go from covering a 16x16 area, to the 8x8 area seen in the final game.

Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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Apr 22 2018
Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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Apr 22 2018

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - South Cabin Hill

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Furrowfield - South Cabin Hill

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Furrowfield - West of bog beach, minimap showcase

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Final

Notes: Chimaera wing, minimap looks nothing like the place the builder's at, still level 1, puzzles can be seen on minimap.

Furrowfield - Bog river (west of Pastor Al's cabin)

Pre-release

Final

Furrowfield - North of base

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Final

Minimap#

Using the images from Furrowfield, this is the state of the minimap in the build shown at this date. The map is very similar to the April 8 version, with the main change being that tiles go from covering a 16x16 area, to the 8x8 area seen in the final game.

Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 22 2018
Furrowfield - Minimap

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Apr 22 2018

May 2018

May 08#

Isle of Awakening#

The next three images were shown in August

and September

, but cropped/modified versions were released in May as thumbnails for videos about transfering data from B1, therefore these must have been taken around this time.

Isle of Awakening - Dragonlord throne Mountaintop

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Isle of Awakening - Dragonlord throne Mountaintop

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(Temple stairs are different)

Isle of Awakening - Mirror Bildrick

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Isle of Awakening - Mirror Bildrick

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Isle of Awakening - Mirror Creatrix

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Isle of Awakening - Mirror Creatrix

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Pre-release

==May 10ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ ビルダー100景コンテスト 結果発表会 - Official Livestream, changing table IoA footage.

== An official stream showed some footage of an early version of the game. This build shows "April 26th" as the build date in the top right.

To do:
Document this video fully. I do not know how though

Minimap#

The minimap shows multiple differences, including the colour of tiles, the room icon, and what blocks map to what tiles. Here is a recreation using the game's assets and prerelease footage.

Recreated Minimap (Prerelease tiles)

Recreated Minimap (Final game tiles)

Recreated Minimap (Prerelease tiles)

Final Isle of Awakening

August 2018

==August 29Gematsu August 29 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Tutorial#

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Pre-release (Aug 29 2018)

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Pre-release (Aug 29 2018)

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - Bog Cabin

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Pre-release
Furrowfield - Bog Cabin

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Pre-release
  • What appears to be an early version of Pastor Al's cabin.
  • Different Builder's gloves icon.
  • Early UI seems to suggest only Malroth gained exp? (He has an icon on the side of the screen with an exp bar, in the final game the exp bar is under the player's HP and the game explicitly states the Builder and Malroth share exp and levels.) Would line up with the previous game where the Builder did not gain EXP through combat. Some dialogue in the final version of the game, where Malroth comments that the player character isn't getting stronger, may be a leftover allusion to this.
  • Other screenshots seem to indicate Malroth also had a more persistently visible HP bar. His HP is visible in the final game only when he takes damage.

Furrowfield - Rosie Fight

Pre-release

34

Final

Malroth's level is at 1. At this point of the story the player has to be at minimun level 2 from story progression.

Furrowfield - North of Base mountain (August 29 2018)

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August 29 2018
Furrowfield - North of Base mountain (August 29 2018)

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August 29 2018

Minimap#

Using the images from Furrowfield, this is the state of the minimap in the build shown at this date.

Furrowfield - Minimap

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August 29 2018
Furrowfield - Minimap

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August 29 2018

September 2018

==September 3Gematsu Dragon Quest Builders 2 details Lulu, ship captain - Dragon Quest Builders 2 News, Date used as reference.

==

Isle of Awakening#

Isle of Awakening - Lulu

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Isle of Awakening - Lulu

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Pre-release

Isle of Awakening - Lulu's father

Pre-release

Final

A different, more advanced, crafting station than the final version is visible in the screenshot, though it is mostly offscreen. The final version of the game places a worn down workbench here, fitting the abandoned island setting. It may be a placeholder.

Additionally, Lulu's dialogue is different here:

Pre-release

Final

Japanese

ルル「もう お部屋(へや)ができたのね！
 ……あなた すごいじゃない！
 お父(とう)さまより こぎわがいいかも…。

ルル「さっそく　お部屋(へや)ができたのね。
 見習(みなら)いにしては　仕事(しごと)が早(はや)いじゃない！

Translation

Lulu: You already made a room!
......You're amazing!
You may be even more skilled than my father...

Lulu: You already made a room!
For an apprentice, you work fast!


Here and other pre-release materials mention that Lulu's father is/was a master builder, however no mention of this is made in the final game; the only information on Lulu's family is that they were killed by monsters shortly before the events of the game.

Isle of Awakening - Brownbeard

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Isle of Awakening - Brownbeard

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Pre-release

==September 12Gematsu September 12 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Tutorial#

Tutorial - Malroth exposition dialogue

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Pre-release
Tutorial - Malroth exposition dialogue

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Pre-release

The camera is slightly different. Also, the speaking animation in the final game is the 'bash' instead of the normal 'talk'.

Isle of Awakening#

Tutorial - Room quest

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Pre-release
Tutorial - Room quest

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Pre-release

Ligthing is different. You cannot complete the quest out of order. 4 blocks for the room instead of 6. The icon floor displays the old room's, even in the final game. EXP is not visible at this point of the game.

Tutorial - Bonefire quest

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Pre-release
Tutorial - Bonefire quest

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Pre-release
Tutorial - Brownbeard's boat

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Pre-release
Tutorial - Brownbeard's boat

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Pre-release

The shallows behind the boat appear to extend further than in the final game. Ruins of a dock appearing near the boat in the final game are absent here.

In the background the unnamed Red-Brick Room Blueprint can be seen. This spot seems to be the spot of this image.

Minimap#

Using the images from this section and the Lulu one from September 3, this is the state of the minimap in the build shown at this date.

Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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September 2-13
Isle of Awakening - Minimap

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September 2-13

Furrowfield#

Furrowfield - Bildrick Church Forest

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Pre-release
Furrowfield - Bildrick Church Forest

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Pre-release

At level 2 health in the prerelease screenshot shows as 30, in the final game it is 31.

Furrowfield - Creatrix North of Base

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Furrowfield - Creatrix North of Base

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Pre-release
Furrowfield - Path to windmill fight

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Pre-release
Furrowfield - Path to windmill fight

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Pre-release
Furrowfield - North of Base Malroth

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Pre-release (Sep 12 2018)
Furrowfield - North of Base Malroth

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Pre-release (Sep 12 2018)

Minimap#

To do:
Sapphire has made the minimap recreation program and Sapphire is tired. Hello future Sapphire are you not tired today? It'd take about... 3 hours to make one minimap recreation! I believe in you.

==September 18Gematsu September 18 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Furrowfield#

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Final

Japanese

ポンペ「ええっ！？　ビルダー！？
 堂々(どうどう)と　ビルダーを名(な)のるなんて…。
 頭(あたま)がおかしい　人(ひと)なんスか？

ポンペ「ええっ！？　ビルダー！？
 堂々(どうどう)と　ビルダーを名(な)のるなんて…。
 おかしい人(ひと)なんスか？

Translation

Perry: What?! A builder?!
 To go around telling everyone you're builder...
 You

Perry: What?! A builder?!
 To go around telling everyone you're builder...
 You

Localisation

Perry

Blimmin' 'eck! What kind o' feller goes round tellin' everyone 'e's a builder? 'E must 'ave something wrong with 'is 'ead...

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Final

Japanese

*「いけませんねええええ！
ワタシが治(おさ)める　この　モンゾーラ教区(きょうく)で
そんな　罪作(つみつく)りなことをっ！！

*「おのれ　ゆるさんぞ！
ワシが治(おさ)める　この　モンゾーラ教区(きょうく)で
物作(ものづく)りに　手(て)を染(そ)めるなどっ！

Translation

*: Placeholder

*: Heresy! How dare you sully my island with the sinful stain of creation! You will pay dearly for this!

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow Rosie.png

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Pre-release

To do:
check quest requirements

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Pre-release

Clayton has brown hair and a hat versus his blue hair in the final version. In the background, the solution to the block-placing puzzle/tutorial to reach the chest was made significantly more obvious.

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Pre-release

Minimap#

To do:
Does anyone even care about the minimaps. Am I wasting my time? You, who is now reading this, are you real? Is this all an illusion? Can an illusion be made real?
Should I merge this minimap comparison with the last furrow? If its similar enough I guess.
I'm tired.

==September 22『ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ２　ビルダーズスクール』 課外授業＆GEMS COMPANY奈日抽ねねの『ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ２』 ステージアフタートーク - SQUARE ENIX official stream

== An official stream showed some footage of an early version of Furrowfield.

To do:
Document stream

Furrowfield#

Minimap#

The minimap shows multiple differences. The most notable being the rocks in the water, and the colour of muddy water.

Recreated Minimap (Prerelease tiles)

Recreated Minimap (Final game tiles)

Recreated Minimap (Prerelease tiles)

Final Furrowfield

==September 27Gematsu September 27 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Furrowfield#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow1.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow2.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Blueprint Furrowfield.png

The irrigation station is built with wood. In the final game soil is used. This can also be seen on a video released during this time.

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow4.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow5.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Furrow7.png

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Final

Japanese

チャコ「思(おも)ったとおりでした。 
 あつめたチカラで　鐘(かね)を鳴(な)らすことで 
 みんなの　物作(ものづく)り力(りょく)が　あがったみたいです！

チャコ「思(おも)ったとおりでした。 
 あつめたチカラで　鐘(かね)を鳴(な)らすことで 
 みなさんも　物作(ものづく)りに　目(め)ざめたみたいです！

Translation

Rosie: I hoped this would happen.
 By ringing that bell with all the power you
 collected,
 it looks like everyone's building power increased!

Rosie: I hoped this would happen.
 By ringing that bell with all the power you
 collected,
 it looks like everyone awakened to building!

Localisation

Rosie

I hoped this would happen. All the power you collected was unleashed when you rang that bell. It opened our eyes to the wonder of building!

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The final game has more crafts unlocked

Pre-release

Final

Japanese

作業(さぎょう)台(だい)で　作(つく)れるものが増(ふ)えた！

クリエは　たくさんのレシピを　ひらめいた！

Translation

Placeholder

Creatrix learns a load of new recipes!

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Final
DQB2 final Furrow6.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final FurrowBlock.png

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Pre-release

Bigger bash cannot be obtained at that level, nor in furrowfiend. The flower pot cannot be obtained in Furrowfield, and flowers are a key item with value storywise. This Bigger Bash seems to be 2x5x5 as opposed to 5x5x5. It may have been altered using the debug menu for this image, as the debug menu is known to have that option in the final release. The hammer seems to either have ultimallet properties or the cracked stone used to be breakable as is. Debug mode also has an option to give the player ultimallet propeties, so it could have been activated that way.

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Pre-release

Another shot of Pastor Al's cabin.

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Room Furrowfield.png

(Check if all items can be found)

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Base Overview Furrowfield.png

The item on the table cannot be obtained in the final game Furrowfield.

Minimap#

To do:
todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo todo

October 2018

==October 1Gematsu October 1 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Furrowfield#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final FurrowBoat.png

Though difficult to see, there is a bodkin archer standing with the villagers on the dock. This kind of monster never becomes available as a villager, on Furrowfield or in general.

Isle of Awakening#

Green Gardens#

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Pre-release

The prerelease image shows mountains that have not been terraformed from the original terrain generation. Most of the GG layout is the same (block by block), but the prerelease image shows 2 spots that hold crates, beds, and chests. One near the tablet, and the other one near the first water blockade. Those spots may have been made for the NPCs to sleep in during the tablet quests where the player won't be given any free time to build them amenities.

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To do:
empty pot

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Final Build Animation

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Final
DQB2 final Male Builder In Building.png

Scarlet Sands#

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Final

There's a similar spot in the Debug island, placed in the Scarlet Sands of the debug build too.

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Female Builder In Building.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Aquarium.png
  • Malroth and the Builder now seem to have the unified EXP bar like the final game.

Minimap#

To do:
This one will be hard

==October 15Gematsu October 15 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Khrumbul-Dun#

To do:
Please finish uploading all the prerelease images...

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Base.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Mine.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Lake.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Temple.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final bar ruins.png

The ruins of the bar has chests present not in the final game. The foundation blocks of the walls use a different bronze block than the final version; that kind of block is obtainable in the final game, but not during the portion of the story where the player repairs the building.

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Dougie.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Digby.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Babs.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Babs Text.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Dougie Text.png

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Margog Text.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Mine Fight.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Mine Female Fight.png

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Final
DQB2 final Khrumbul Mine Male Fight.png

==October 22Gematsu October 22 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Khrumbul-Dun#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Mine Bomb.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Minecart.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Goldirox.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Silver Gathering.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 final Silver Bar.png

The layout of the Silver Bar is very different from the blueprint the player must follow final version. Like the first bar, it uses silver block variants that are not present in the blueprint in the final version.

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Minimedal Magnet Puzzle.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 finalKhrumbul Minimedal Cactus Puzzle.jpg

Furrowfield#

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  • Mini medal signs are now as they appear in final.

Check: if the magnet puzzle is different ==October 29Gematsu October 29 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

To do:
Didn't see anything obvious, though I haven't actually played multiplayer, so I dunno if the UI is different

November 2018

==November 12Gematsu November 12 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Isle of Awakening#

Beach#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Pixel Slime Build.jpg

Scarlet Sands#

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Cerulean Steppe#

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Explorer Shores#

To do:

  • Check: if the... checklists for explorer shores shown here are different.
  • Check: Getting fireworks at such a low level (and thus story progression) as in one of these screenshots is impossible in the final game, I thiiiink?

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Sunny Sands.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Iridescent Island.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Blossom Bay Flower.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Blossom Bay Lake.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Blossom Bay Builderdom Best.jpg
  • Malroth's persistently visible HP bar seems to be gone now (or it may have vanished earlier, double check)
  • Hairy Hermit's temple is now much closer to, if not exactly the same as, the final version.

==November 19Gematsu November 19 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Isle of Awakening#

Mountaintop#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Noticeboard Mountaintop.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Noticeboard main page.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Camera Album.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Noticeboard main page 2.jpg

Scarlet Sands#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Magic Pencil Blueprint.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Malroth Marries Creatrix or something trust.jpg

Cerulean Steppe#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Magic Pencil.jpg

Explorer Shores#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Sunny Sands Camera.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Blossom Bay Camera.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Filter Camera.jpg

This just seems to be showing off photomode with a bunch of dev-built stuff. Hairy Hermit's temple is final here I guess. ==November 26Gematsu November 19 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Moonbrooke#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Siege.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Lighthouse.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Boat.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Base Ruins.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Base Attack.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Siege Text.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Warwick.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Warwick Text.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Anessa.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Anessa Text.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Bildrick Attack.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Creatrix Attack.jpg

Check: Do enemy Magi (red/green) appear here in the final game? I thought it was just Shamans (blue/purple).

December 2018

==December 3Gematsu December 3 2018 - Dragon Quest Builders 2 Screenshots, Date used as reference.

==

Moonbrooke#

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Castle Wall 1.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Crafting Blueprint Menu.jpg

Pre-release

Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Blueprint NPCs.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Castle Wall 2.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Castle Zap Trap.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Castle Fire Trap.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Castle Wind Trap.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Underwater Section.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Tornado Section.jpg

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Final
DQB2 Final Moonbrooke Freezing.jpg
  • You're never supposed to go with Malroth past the ocean whirlwinds to the tower. Though it is perfectly possible to visit this area out of intended sequence in the final game, the only thing preventing you from doing so is not knowing where the location is. Malroth's presence is likely to avoid spoiling that he leaves the party.

==December 6「ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ2」体験版の配信が本日スタート。からっぽ島での自由な暮らしを発売に先駆けて楽しめる - 4gamer

== A demo is released for the game, allowing you to play the tutorial segment at the start of the game.

December 20#

The full game is released.

References

References#

  1. Wayback machine capture of official dragonquest.jp, dated April 2nd 2028↩︎
  2. Dragon Quest Builders 2 announced for Switch - Nintendoeverything, August 5 2017↩︎
  3. Youtube reupload of streamed gameplay - RPGSite, Youtube↩︎
  4. A few Dragon Quest Builders 2 details, release date is a year off - Nintendoeverything, August 5 2017↩︎
  5. New Dragon Quest Builders 2 footage, can bring over save data the first game - Nintendoeverything, February 16, 2018↩︎
  6. ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ TOPビルダーコンテスト～ビルダーズ2への道～ Square Enix, via Youtube↩︎
  7. Dragon Quest Builders 2 Japanese subtitle, protagonist, and setting revealed - Weekly Jump, via Gematsu, March 30th 2018↩︎
  8. Dragon Quest Builders 2 details and screenshots - Official website, via Nintendoeverything, April 2, 2018↩︎
  9. Wayback machine capture of official dragonquest.jp, dated April 2nd 2028↩︎
  10. First look at Malroth in Dragon Quest Builders 2 - Weekly Jump, via Nintendoeverthing, April 6, 2018↩︎
  11. Dragon Quest Builders 2 Marth(sic) details and screenshots - Official site, via Nintendoeverything, April 8, 2018↩︎
  12. Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes place after Dragon Quest II - Weekly Jump, via Nintendoeverything, April 13, 2018↩︎
  13. Dragon Quest Builders 2 Japanese site gives details of the Hargon Order Official website, via Nintendoeverything, April 16, 2018↩︎
  14. Dragon Quest Builders 2: a few more story and gameplay details, Weekly Jump, via Nintendoeverything, April 20, 2018↩︎
  15. Dragon Quest Builders 2 details and screenshots – story overview, Vacant Island, evolved building elements, Official site, via Nintendoeverything, April 23, 2018↩︎
  16. Dragon Quest Builders 2 details and footage – carryover save data bonuses from the first game and more - Weekly Jump, via Nintendoeverything, May 10, 2018↩︎
  17. dragonquest.jp World2 - Official DQB2 page, "World2" tab.↩︎
  18. dragonquest.jp World2 - Official DQB2 page, "World2" tab.↩︎
  19. Minimap Export Tool by Sapphire645 - Maps and tilesheet extracted using this tool↩︎
  20. Minimap Export Tool by Sapphire645 - Maps and tilesheet extracted using this tool↩︎
  21. dragonquest.jp Character - Official DQB2 page, "Character" tab.↩︎
  22. dragonquest.jp World - Official DQB2 page, "World" tab.↩︎
  23. dragonquest.jp World - Official DQB2 page, "World" tab.↩︎
  24. dragonquest.jp Character2 - Official DQB2 page, "Character2" tab.↩︎
  25. dragonquest.jp Character2 - Official DQB2 page, "Character2" tab.↩︎
  26. dragonquest.jp World4 - Official DQB2 page, "World4" tab.↩︎
  27. dragonquest.jp World4 - Official DQB2 page, "World4" tab.↩︎
  28. dragonquest.jp Story, Wayback Machine - Official DQB2 page, "Story" tab, May 2018.↩︎
  29. dragonquest.jp Story, Wayback Machine - Official DQB2 page, "Story" tab, May 2018.↩︎
  30. dragonquest.jp World5 - Official DQB2 page, "World5" tab.↩︎
  31. dragonquest.jp World5 - Official DQB2 page, "World5" tab.↩︎
  32. dragonquest.jp Products - Official DQB2 page, "Products" tab.↩︎
  33. dragonquest.jp Products - Official DQB2 page, "Products" tab.↩︎
  34. jp.square-enix.com - Official SE page announcement.↩︎