Dynasty Warriors 10: Project Cancelled

Summary

• The planned 10th mainline Dynasty Warriors game was canceled due to technological advancements.
• Elements from the canceled Dynasty Warriors 10 were incorporated into Origins to enhance gameplay and strategy.
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins, featuring hack-and-slash combat set in the Three Kingdoms Era, releases January 17, 2025.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins has an interesting backstory. Its developers initially worked on a planned 10th mainline installment, but ultimately canceled it to create Origins. Deluxe Edition players experienced the fast-paced combat early, showcasing a significant technological leap from four years prior.

For those without early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins launches January 17, 2025. Maintaining the series' signature free-roaming hack-and-slash combat (established in the 2000 sequel), players embody a mysterious amnesiac, interacting with iconic figures from China's Three Kingdoms Era.

While many have already played Origins, Omega Force recently revealed a canceled predecessor. In a 4Gamer interview (translated by SiliconEra), producer Masamichi Oba discussed this "phantom number title." It would have featured stage-clearing gameplay similar to 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7, differing significantly from Origins.

Dynasty Warriors 10's Cancellation: Forging a Better Dynasty Warriors

Producer Tomohiko Sho explained that the decision to cancel the 10th game stemmed from witnessing the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other contemporary consoles. The team shifted strategy, leveraging modern hardware. However, they retained positive elements from previous Dynasty Warriors titles.

Oba noted that elements from the canceled project found their way into Origins. This includes the free-roaming map, a feature he envisioned for the canceled title, and a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative. While abandoning the previous project was challenging, the team successfully integrated its best features into Origins.