Dragon Quest fans can breathe a sigh of relief as series creator Yuji Horii has confirmed that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still in development and has not been canceled. Announced as part of the franchise's 35th anniversary celebration in 2021, Dragon Quest 12 marks the first mainline entry since Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age released in 2017. Despite the quiet period following its announcement, Horii provided a brief update in February, stating that the team at Square Enix was "working hard" and that information would be released gradually.
True to his word, updates have been sparse, but in a recent interview with Gamereactor, Horii has once again reassured fans that development is ongoing. "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." While fans might have hoped for more concrete details like a trailer or screenshots, this confirmation should ease concerns about the game's status, especially amidst restructuring at Square Enix and a lack of updates.
In May 2024, Horii noted the deaths of Dragon Quest 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, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project. Despite these challenges, Horii's latest comments reaffirm his commitment to delivering a new installment that fans can look forward to.
