Series creator Yuji Horii has confirmed a special 40th-anniversary stream for Dragon Quest, during which the next major game in the series will be revealed. After years of silence, this brings a real sign of life from "Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate" within reach.
Yuji Horii revealed plans for a live event in a now-defunct stream, explicitly promising the announcement of the "next game." Square Enix's decision to use the 40th anniversary of the cult series for this bombshell announcement follows the tradition of the 35th anniversary.
The return of The Flames of Fate
Since the first announcement of “Dragon Quest XII“In 2021, there was complete radio silence. While spin-offs like “Dragon Quest Treasures” or the HD-2D remake of Part III have already been released, the main project remained a phantom. Although Horii only mentioned the “next game” in the current leak, anything other than an update to Part XII would be a bitter disappointment for the community.”
Square Enix is under pressure. According to previous statements, the twelfth installment is supposed to be darker and fundamentally overhaul the classic turn-based combat system. Fans have been waiting for five years for concrete gameplay footage demonstrating what this modernization looks like in practice.
A package for the fans
Horii also hinted that further announcements are planned in addition to the main game. At the last major anniversary, Square Enix pulled out all the stops: mobile games, remakes, and offline versions of the MMO spin-offs were all on the agenda. It's likely that, alongside the big blockbuster, we'll also receive information about further ports or smaller projects intended to bridge the gap until the release of Part XII.
The timing of the announcement is typical of Horii, who often manages to outsmart Square Enix's PR department. The fact that the video was quickly set to "private" only underscores the significance of the information. We can expect official confirmation of the stream from Square Enix in the coming days.
Expectations are sky-high, but caution is advised. Just because Horii promises an announcement doesn't automatically mean a 2026 release date. A first real trailer with in-game footage and a rough outline of the timeline is more likely. The series is celebrating its 40th anniversary – Square Enix will have to deliver to maintain the franchise's relevance against modern JRPG competition.
