Dragon Quest XII remains in development, with series creator Yuji Horii assuring fans that information will be unveiled gradually. During a recent livestream with his radio show group, KosoKoso Hōsō Kyoku, Horii confirmed that the Square Enix team is diligently working on the project. This update follows a previous statement in May 2024, which acknowledged the passing of Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama, and the departure of lead producer Yu Miyake to head Square Enix's mobile game division. Horii's comments directly address fan concerns regarding the game's status amidst Square Enix restructuring and the absence of recent updates.
Announced as part of the series' 35th-anniversary celebration, Dragon Quest XII will be the first mainline entry since 2017's Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. The news follows Square Enix's announcement that Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake surpassed sales expectations, achieving 2 million copies sold.
