Among the many announcements that Square Enix and series creator Yuji Horii revealed for Dragon Quest’s 35th anniversary was Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate. Very few details were revealed though Unreal Engine 5 has been confirmed as the engine. Speaking to Weekly Famitsu, Square Enix president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda said that the title is “being developed taking into account the next 10 to 20 years of the Dragon Quest series.”
“There are parts that remain consistent with the traditional image of Dragon Quest, but new elements are also necessary. After all, as a brand we always need to innovate.” Horii previously revealed that the command battle system was being “completely renewed”, though whether this means new elements or a complete overhaul. As it stands, the story is already finished and the development team is working on its “implementation.”
Fans will have to wait though – Horii noted that the sequel is a “big game” and thus will require time to complete. Considering the size and scale of Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, a release by 2024 wouldn’t be surprising. In the meantime, a number of other projects are in the works including Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake (which utilizes the Octopath Traveler engine) and Dragon Quest Treasures, a spin-off that focuses on Erik and Mia from Dragon Quest 11. Stay tuned for more details on platforms and release windows in the future.
