Yuji Horii on Dragon Quest 12: "Putting Lots of Work Into It," Remains Tight-Lipped on Details

Fans of the legendary Dragon Quest series can breathe a sigh of relief as Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the franchise, has officially confirmed that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still in development and has not been canceled. This news comes as a welcome update amidst the series' 35th anniversary celebrations in 2021, which introduced the world to the much-anticipated sequel to 2017's Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Since its announcement, there has been a notable silence surrounding the project, leaving fans eager for any scrap of information.

The last update on Dragon Quest 12 came in February when Horii mentioned that the team at Square Enix was "working hard," promising that details would be shared "little by little." True to his word, the silence persisted until a recent interview with Gamereactor, where Horii once again addressed the status of the game. "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 update might not include a trailer or screenshots, it's a reassuring sign for those who feared that 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 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 unwavering, ensuring fans that Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is still on its way.