To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest, 'Dragon Quest 12: Beyond the Dreams' and 'Dragon Quest Monsters 4: Bianca and Flora in the Barren Land', which are currently under new development, have been revealed.

Square Enix presented information on various events in Japan along with news of two new titles to commemorate Dragon Quest Day on May 27. News about the new game was announced through a special video held on the 27th, and other 40th anniversary-related news can be checked on the special website. Game designer Yuji Horii, the father of Dragon Quest, shared his thoughts on the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest through the special website. Game designer Yuji Horii conveyed his gratitude, stating, "Forty years have already passed since the release of the first title, Dragon Quest, in 1986," and added, "First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the fans who have continued the adventure with us until now." He continued, "Dragon Quest began with the wonder of being able to enjoy an RPG on a living room TV, and has now evolved into a grand story that can be enjoyed by parents, children, and even grandchildren," adding, "What has always been cherished, even as hardware and times change, is the 'excitement of being able to become the protagonist oneself.'" Finally, Game Designer Yuji Horii revealed his goal: "Even as we celebrate the 40th anniversary, my spirit of adventure has not yet run its course, so I will continue to deliver new stories that can accompany fans on the adventure of their lives." Meanwhile, in Japan, to mark the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest, commemorative exhibitions, various collaborations, merchandise, and books are being released. The Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Exhibition will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 17 to September 6, and is scheduled to be held in Osaka in the spring of 2027. Two New Dragon Quest Titles Two new Dragon Quest titles have been revealed for the first time. Many things have changed from Dragon Quest 12, which was announced in 2021, and the subtitle and logo have also been changed. The newly revealed title of this work is 'Dragon Quest 12: Beyond the Dreams'. Yosuke Saito, Executive Producer of Dragon Quest 12, stated that development of Dragon Quest 12 is still ongoing, and since the development system has been reorganized and a fresh start has been made, it is expected to take a little more time until release. Regarding the system reorganization, Producer Saito explained the background, saying, "Dragon Quest 12, which was originally under development, has undergone various challenges as the latest title in the series. During that process, after repeated discussions with Game Designer Yuji Horii and deep deliberation on the direction for the official numbered titles of Dragon Quest, we decided to create 12 under a new system, and we are still continuing development." The development team [aims to] create the latest Dragon Quest title that more fans can enjoy... He stated that he made a difficult decision with the conviction that he would be able to present a work worthy of it. This work is a story depicting the adventure of a protagonist who begins to have a mysterious dream. Beyond the dream, a bright and exciting world unfolds rather than a dark one. This work also features the artwork of Akira Toriyama and the music of Koichi Sugiyama. In addition, it is expected to showcase a more evolved version of Dragon Quest by incorporating elements not found in previous series. In the video, you can see the protagonist along with beautiful graphic backgrounds. More information regarding Dragon Quest 12 will be revealed later. Game designer Yuji Horii stated, "Although it is different from the previously announced Dragon Quest 12, I believe fans will definitely enjoy it," adding, "It will be a truly wonderful work, so please look forward to the next announcement." Meanwhile, news regarding 'Dragon Quest Monsters 4: Bianca and Flora in the Barren Land' was unexpectedly revealed. Although detailed game information has not been confirmed, the logo and a brief glimpse of young Bianca and Flora were shown. Dragon Quest Monsters 4 will be released before Dragon Quest 12 and is scheduled to be released on Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. However, a specific release schedule has not been disclosed.