Dragon Quest 12 will shape the series for up to 20 years, Square Enix says

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Sounds like the next mainline Dragon Quest will tweak the formula somewhat

Dragon Quest 11
(Image credit: Square Enix)

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate will shape the future of the iconic JRPG series for 10-20 years, says Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda.

In an interview with Weekly Famitsu (via Ryokutya2089), Matsuda explained that Dragon Quest 12 will retain some of the familiar structure the series is built upon while adding new elements into the mix. Due to the vague phrasing filtered through Japanese-to-English translation, it's hard to decipher just how dramatically Dragon Quest 12 will differ from its predecessors, but Matsuda suggests the changes will impact the series for up to two decades.

"Dragon Quest 12 is being developed taking into account the next 10 to 20 years of the Dragon Quest series," Matsuda said, adding, "There are parts that remain consistent with the traditional image of Dragon Quest, but new elements are also necessary. After all, as a brand, we always need to innovate."

Though undeniably beloved, the Dragon Quest series is notorious for sticking to its roots even as other JRPG staples experiment and adopt new gameplay mechanics and world features. If there's one complaint that's common in reviews of the most recent entry, the superb Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, it's that it doesn't do anything new with the series or genre. For that reason, it's significant to hear Matsuda suggest on the record that Dragon Quest 12 will play around with the formula and make lasting changes.

Surely the best news for Dragon Quest fans in the West is that Square Enix is planning to launch Dragon Quest 12 worldwide simultaneously, rather than keeping it in Japan for a while like earlier releases. The studio hasn't talked about a release date or platforms yet, but the sequel is likely still in early development.

If you haven't played Dragon Quest 11 yet, go check it out - it's great. If you have, here are the best RPGs to play next.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.