Series creator Yuji Horii has reassured fans that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate remains in active development despite the prolonged silence. Originally announced during the franchise's 35th anniversary celebrations in 2021 as the first mainline installment since 2017's acclaimed Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, the project has maintained an unusually low profile.
The most recent update came in February when Horii broke his silence to confirm the Square Enix development team was "working hard" on the title, promising information would be shared gradually. True to his word, updates have indeed been scarce - until now.
In a recent Gamereactor interview, Horii reappeared to confirm the RPG's development continues unimpeded. "Yes, indeed, I can't say anything, I apologize," the veteran creator 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 screenshots or gameplay footage, this confirmation dispels concerns about potential cancellation following Square Enix's restructuring and the extended information drought.
The development landscape has shifted significantly since 2021, with May 2024 seeing Horii acknowledge the passing of key collaborators - legendary character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Additionally, longtime series producer Yu Miyake transitioned to overseeing Square Enix's mobile division earlier in the project's lifecycle.
