Square Enix held a special broadcast for the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest today, revealing new details on the highly anticipated Dragon Quest XII and more for the long-running JRPG series. Here’s a breakdown of everything announced today.
Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams
Square Enix has re-revealed Dragon Quest XII with a new subtitle, changing from Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate to Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams. According to series creator Yuji Horii, the twelfth entry in the series rebooted development at some point, resulting in a change of direction from the darker, action-heavy installment previously teased.
No release window was given, but new footage revealed a dense open world and new characters, including a brand new protagonist. These designs were created by the late Akira Toriyama, and the game will feature music from the late composer Koichi Sugiyama. No platforms were confirmed, and it seems that the game is still a few years out.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World
A new entry in the Dragon Quest Monsters series was announced during the event. This entry seems to have ties to Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, as the teaser shows younger incarnations of love interests Bianca and Nera. In Japan, this entry is titled ‘Dragon Quest Monsters 4’, making it the next mainline entry following 2023’s Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince.
It’s not yet known what team will be developing this title, although it might be reasonable to assume that The Dark Prince developer TOSE is involved. No release window was given, although Horii teased that the team is hoping to have it released before Dragon Quest XII.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is in development for PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Front-runner for longest video game title of all time, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is receiving a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition release later this year. Set to arrive on September 24, this version will boost frame rates and resolutions for the Nintendo Switch port, which itself added new story and gameplay content to the 2018 release. This version will be released physically as a key card in Japan with a collector’s edition. Save data from the Nintendo Switch version will not transfer to the Switch 2 Edition and no upgrade path is planned.
Dragon Quest XI: S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. The Switch 2 Edition will release on September 24.
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