Yuji Horii Hints at 'Lots of Work' on Dragon Quest 12, Remains Tight-Lipped on Details

Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the iconic Dragon Quest series, has recently put to rest any rumors regarding the cancellation of Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate. This eagerly awaited installment was unveiled during the franchise's 35th anniversary festivities back in 2021, marking it as the first major entry since Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age in 2017. Despite the long silence following its announcement, Horii broke his silence in February, assuring fans that the development team at Square Enix is diligently working on the project and that updates would come "little by little."

True to his word, Horii has kept a low profile until now. In a recent interview with Gamereactor, he once again addressed the status of Dragon Quest 12, providing some reassurance to the fanbase. "Yes, indeed, I can't say anything, I apologize," Horii stated, emphasizing his commitment to the project. "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 tangible updates like trailers or screenshots, Horii's latest comments should ease concerns about the game's fate, especially amidst restructuring at Square Enix and the lack of recent updates. In May 2024, Horii also acknowledged the significant losses the series faced with the deaths of Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Additionally, the series' lead producer, Yu Miyake, had already transitioned to lead Square Enix’s mobile game division, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project.