Development on Dragon Quest 12 has been completely overhauled, meaning the game will arrive even later than anticipated. Originally announced in 2021 as Dragon Quest 12: The Flames Of Fate, the title was positioned as a more adult-oriented entry for the beloved series. The initial teaser trailer and logo hinted at a darker, grittier tone than fans were accustomed to.
Return to Classic Roots
While Dragon Quest has remained relevant through spin-offs and successful remakes—most recently this year's Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined—the only update on Dragon Quest 12 had been that efforts to appeal to an older audience were causing internal difficulties. A mature, edgier Dragon Quest always seemed like a misstep, and Square Enix appears to have recognized this. The game has now been re-announced as Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams, featuring a new logo and an aesthetic far more in line with the series' traditional charm.
The new teaser trailer primarily consists of cinematic footage, but brief glimpses of gameplay reveal a vibrant, colorful open world. No combat is shown, but Square Enix has given no indication that the game will deviate from the classic turn-based role-playing system that defines the franchise.
Extended Development Timeline
The downside is that after roughly five years of waiting, fans must be patient even longer. Development has completely restarted from scratch. Given the current pace of game development, the release could be another five years away. 'Due to a reshuffle of the team and a restart of development, it's going to be a bit longer till it's in your hands,' admits executive producer Yosuke Saito. 'Work on the original version hit many hurdles. But after discussions with series creator Yuji Horii about what a mainline Dragon Quest should be, we decided to start over. It was a major decision, but I believe it's the right one to ensure fans will truly love the next entry.'
By the time Dragon Quest 12 launches, it will have been over a decade since Dragon Quest 11, which debuted in 2017 for PlayStation 4 and 3DS in Japan. The Western release followed in 2018, and the game has since been ported to Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. A Switch 2 port is confirmed, available for pre-order and launching on September 24.
40th Anniversary Announcements
The news came during a livestream celebrating Dragon Quest's 40th anniversary. Square Enix also announced a new Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. This Pokémon-style title is in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. It will feature two characters from Dragon Quest 5: Bianca and Nera.
