In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Dragon Quest series, two new titles currently in development were unveiled: 'Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate' and 'Dragon Quest Monsters 4: Bianca and Flora of the Arid Land.'

SQUARE ENIX commemorated 'Dragon Quest Day' on May 27 by announcing the two new titles alongside information on various events taking place in Japan. The news was shared via a special video released on the 27th, and further details regarding the 40th-anniversary celebrations can be found on a dedicated website.

Game designer Yuji Horii, the father of Dragon Quest, shared his thoughts on the 40th anniversary through the special website.

"It has been 40 years since the first Dragon Quest game was released in 1986," Horii said, expressing his gratitude. "First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the fans who have joined us on this adventure until now."

He continued, "Dragon Quest began with the wonder of being able to play a RPG on a living room TV, and it has since grown into a story so vast that it is shared across generations—from parents to children and even grandchildren. Even as hardware and eras change, what we have always cherished is the thrill of knowing that you, yourself, can be the protagonist."

Finally, Horii stated that even at 40, his sense of adventure remains undiminished, and he aims to continue delivering new stories that can accompany fans on the adventure that is their own lives.

Meanwhile, Japan is hosting various 40th-anniversary celebrations, including commemorative exhibitions, collaborations, merchandise, and publications. The Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Exhibition will be held in Tokyo from July 17 to September 6, with an Osaka event scheduled for the spring of 2027.

Two New Dragon Quest Titles

The first look at the newly restructured 'Dragon Quest XII' and its subtitle were revealed. Much has changed since the game was first announced in 2021, including the subtitle and logo. The official title of this newly unveiled project is 'Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate.'

Yosuke Saito, the general producer of Dragon Quest XII, stated that the game is still in development and that, due to the restructuring of the development team and a fresh start, it will take some time before the game is ready for release.

Regarding the restructuring, Saito explained, "The version of XII we were initially developing had taken on various challenges as the latest entry in the series. In the process, after repeated discussions with Yuji Horii and deep consideration regarding the direction of a mainline Dragon Quest title, we made the decision to build XII under a new structure, and development is currently ongoing."

The development team noted that they made this difficult decision with the conviction that they would be able to deliver a title worthy of being the latest Dragon Quest game for even more fans to enjoy.

The story follows a protagonist who experiences mysterious dreams. Beyond those dreams lies a world that is bright and exciting rather than dark. This title will once again feature the art of Akira Toriyama and the music of Koichi Sugiyama.

The game will also incorporate elements never before seen in the series, offering a more evolved Dragon Quest experience. The reveal video showcased the protagonist's appearance and beautiful background graphics. Further information regarding Dragon Quest XII will be released at a later date.

"Although it is different from the Dragon Quest XII we previously announced, I am confident that fans will enjoy it," said Horii. "It is going to be a truly wonderful game, so please look forward to future updates."

Additionally, 'Dragon Quest Monsters 4: Bianca and Flora of the Arid Land' was a surprise announcement. While detailed information has not yet been confirmed, the logo and brief glimpses of young Bianca and Flora were shown.

Dragon Quest Monsters 4 is scheduled to launch before Dragon Quest XII and will be released on Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. A specific release date has not yet been announced.