In a recent update that will undoubtedly please fans, Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the iconic Dragon Quest series, has confirmed that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still very much in development and has not been canceled. This news comes as a relief, given the silence surrounding the project since its announcement in 2021 as part of the series' 35th anniversary celebration. The last mainline entry, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, was released back in 2017, and fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installment.
The last update on Dragon Quest 12 was in February, when Horii mentioned that the development team at Square Enix was "working hard" and that information would be released "little by little." True to his word, updates have been sparse, but in a recent interview with Gamereactor, Horii provided reassurance that the project remains on track. "Yes, indeed, I can't say anything, I apologize," he stated. "I am making it, putting lots of work into it... I can only say that the next work will be great too, [I'm] working really hard. Please look forward to it is the only thing I can say."
All we have of Dragon Quest 12 is this logo, released in 2021.
While fans might have hoped for more concrete details such as a trailer or screenshots, Horii's confirmation should alleviate concerns, especially in light of restructuring at Square Enix and a lack of updates. In May 2024, Horii also acknowledged the significant losses to the Dragon Quest team with the deaths of character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Additionally, the series' lead producer Yu Miyake had already stepped down to lead Square Enix's mobile game division, marking a period of transition for the franchise.
