Yuji Horii Hints at Hard Work on Secretive Dragon Quest 12

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still in development, according to series creator Yuji Horii. Despite long stretches of silence and recent upheaval within Square Enix, Horii has confirmed that the game has not been canceled.

Dragon Quest 12 was first unveiled during the franchise’s 35th-anniversary event in 2021. As the first mainline installment since Dragon Quest XI in 2017, its announcement was met with high anticipation. However, progress has remained largely under wraps ever since. The last official update came in February of the previous year, when Horii shared that the development team at Square Enix was “working hard” and promised that more details would emerge gradually.

In a recent interview with Gamereactor, Horii once again addressed the game’s status, offering further reassurance to 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—that is the only thing I can say.”

While no new gameplay details or visuals have surfaced beyond the initial logo released in 2021, this confirmation helps dispel rumors of cancellation amid ongoing restructuring at Square Enix and the lack of consistent updates.

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

In May 2024, Horii also reflected on the passing of two key figures in the franchise's history—character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Their absence undoubtedly marks a significant shift for the series. Additionally, former lead producer Yu Miyake had already transitioned to head Square Enix’s mobile game division, adding another layer of change behind the scenes.

Despite these challenges, Horii remains committed to delivering a worthy next chapter in the beloved RPG series. Fans continue to wait patiently, hopeful for the day when more concrete details about Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate are finally revealed.