Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fateis a highly anticipated title, but one with next to nothing really shown so far. It has been almost two full years sinceDragon Quest 12was first announced, leaving many in the dark. The silence surroundingDragon Quest 12is doing more harm than good, and as a result, the time for an update may be sooner rather than later.
As arguably Square Enix’s biggest property aside fromFinal Fantasyand one of thebiggest JRPG franchises in general,Dragon Questis an iconic series. With art byDragon Ballcreator Akira Toriyama and a quirky sense of humor, theDragon Questfranchise is home to a line of well-loved games, even if some of them never made it out of their country of origin. In addition to some of its heroes becoming playable fighters inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate,DragonQuestalso got a shout-out in fellow RPGYakuza: Like a Dragon, with the series having a vital role in forming protagonist Ichiban’s worldview.
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Dragon Quest 12 Badly Needs A Status Update
At the moment,Dragon Quest 12is in a similar situation to thelong-awaitedGrand Theft Auto 6. Both games were announced well in advance, then faded into silence while fans were left with nothing but speculation. One problem with this approach is that there is the danger of fans and prospective players either losing interest or getting frustrated with the wait. It doesn’t help that several other series, most prominentlyThe Legend of Zeldaare also getting new installments, leavingDragon Quest 12in danger of being lost in the shuffle. Some new information would give players something to anticipate while shaping their expectations.
Another issue forDragon Quest 12comes in a more historical context. Starting with theoriginalDragon Questfor the NES, there has never been a stretch of longer than five years between two numberedDragon Questreleases. However,Dragon Quest 11came out in July 2017, so it has been almost six years since its release. The wait forDragon Quest 12has already broken a record for the series in that sense, which makes the lack of information on the game more frustrating. If anything, the gap between sequels only makesDragon Quest 12seem even more overdue.
Even thoughDragon Quest 12’s status is largely unknown, it still has a strong chance of succeeding upon release. Even beforeDragon Quest 11came to Game Pass, it was one of the most popular installments yet, earning widespread praise and breathing renewed life into the series. If Square Enix were to make an announcement aboutDragon Quest 12, particularly during an event such as E3 or a Nintendo Direct, then it would stir that same enthusiasm up again, especially if paired with a trailer for the game. TheDragon Questname still carries weight, and despite still being shrouded in mystery,Dragon Quest 12is no exception.
Hopefully, an official announcement aboutDragon Quest 12by Square Enix is not too far away. Two years without any updates is a long time, and thesilence surroundingDragon Quest 12is not doing anything to drive interest in the title. The industry is not slowing down, and major releases are only increasing in number. 2023 already looking to be stacked with significant titles, from the nextLegend of ZeldatoPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC waves. Square Enix needs to remind fans aboutDragon Quest 12, because some may have forgotten its announcement in the first place.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fateis currently in development.
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