Yuji Horii: 'Putting Lots of Work Into' Dragon Quest 12, But 'Can't Say Anything' Specific

Fans of the iconic Dragon Quest series can breathe a sigh of relief as Yuji Horii, the creator of the franchise, has officially confirmed that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still in development and has not been canceled. This statement comes after a period of silence and amid concerns sparked by restructuring at Square Enix and a lack of updates.

Dragon Quest 12 was announced during the series' 35th anniversary celebration in 2021, marking the first mainline entry since 2017's Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Since then, details have been scarce, with the last update coming in February when Horii broke his silence to mention that the development team at Square Enix was "working hard" and that information would be shared "little by little."

True to his word, there has been minimal information since, but in a recent interview with Gamereactor, Horii provided reassurance to the fans. "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 not as detailed as a trailer or screenshots, this update should ease the worries of those who feared the project might have been abandoned.

All we have of Dragon Quest 12 is this logo, released in 2021.

In May 2024, Horii noted the deaths of Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama, adding another layer of uncertainty to the project's future. Additionally, the series’ lead producer Yu Miyake had already stepped down from his role to head Square Enix’s mobile game division, further complicating the development landscape.

Despite these challenges, Horii's latest comments reaffirm the team's commitment to delivering another great installment in the Dragon Quest saga. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for more updates as development progresses.