Dynasty Warriors 10 Was Canceled

Summary

• The 10th mainline installment in the Dynasty Warriors franchise was canceled due to technological advancements.
• The canceled Dynasty Warriors 10 led to incorporating elements into Origins for more modern and strategic gameplay.
• The release date for Dynasty Warriors: Origins is January 17, 2025, featuring hack-and-slash combat in the Three Kingdoms Era.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins emerged from a bittersweet beginning, as its developers were initially focused on creating the 10th mainline installment in the series. However, they decided to pivot and cancel that project to develop the new game. Deluxe Edition players have already experienced the fast-paced combat of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, a game that might not have been possible without the technological advancements of the past four years.

For those who did not opt for early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is scheduled for release on January 17, 2025. The game retains the series' signature free-roaming hack-and-slash combat, introduced in its second mainline installment in 2000, and allows players to embody a mysterious, amnesiac character amidst the iconic officers of China's Three Kingdoms Era.

While some fans have already explored the world of Dynasty Warriors: Origins as its nameless protagonist, the development team at Omega Force disclosed that another game in the series was canceled before Origins' development began. In an interview with the Japanese site 4Gamer, translated by SiliconEra, development producer Masamichi Oba explained that they were working on a "phantom number title" under the Dynasty Warriors brand. This canceled title would have resembled 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7 in its stage-clearing format, significantly differing from the final product that early access players are currently enjoying.

Dynasty Warriors 10 Was Canceled to Make the Best Dynasty Warriors Possible

The primary reason for canceling the 10th named game, as stated by producer Tomohiko Sho in the same interview, was the team's exposure to the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other current-generation consoles. Witnessing the potential of these modern systems prompted the developers to rethink their strategy for the next game, while still integrating some of the best features from previous Dynasty Warriors titles.

According to Oba, although it was challenging to abandon the other project, the team managed to incorporate some of its elements into Dynasty Warriors: Origins. These include the concept of free-roaming maps, which Oba had planned for the canceled title, as well as a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative.