Yuji Horii: 'Can't Say Much' on Dragon Quest 12, But 'Working Hard'

Fans of the iconic Dragon Quest series can breathe a sigh of relief as Yuji Horii, the creator of the franchise, has confirmed that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate has not been canceled. Announced during the series' 35th anniversary celebration in 2021, Dragon Quest 12 marks the first mainline entry since 2017's Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Despite the silence that followed, Horii broke his silence in February, stating that the development team at Square Enix is "working hard" and that information about the game would be released gradually.

True to his word, updates have been sparse, but in a recent interview with Gamereactor, Horii reassured fans that the project is still on track. "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 this might not be as concrete as a trailer or screenshots, it should ease the concerns of fans who feared Dragon Quest 12 might have been canceled amid restructuring at Square Enix and a lack of updates.

In May 2024, Horii noted the deaths of Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Additionally, the series' lead producer Yu Miyake had already stepped down to lead Square Enix's mobile game division, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the project. Despite these challenges, Horii's commitment to the game remains steadfast, promising fans that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate will be worth the wait.