The Dragon Quest franchise is very popular in Japan, so much so that the game has made quite a lot of fans all over the world. In a recent live stream, the next entry in the franchise has been called Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate.
The upcoming game will be so much different than the previous titles. While the information about the latest entry is scarce at the moment, here is everything we know so far.
New Unreal Engine
Many titles use Unreal Engine and the newest version, Unreal Engine 5, is now in early access and some developers are now using it to create their upcoming games.
That said, the Dragon Quest XII will also be using the same engine, confirmed in an official tweet. It will bring massive graphical improvements compared to its predecessors. It is also worth noting that UE5 is supported on the Nintendo Switch as well, so we could be seeing a port of the game on the portable console.
本日発表となった『ドラゴンクエストXII 選ばれし運命の炎』の新規開発スタッフの募集です。
— ドラゴンクエスト宣伝担当 (@DQ_PR) May 27, 2021
本作はUnreal Engine 5にて開発中であり、さまざまな挑戦をしております。
一緒に新しいドラゴンクエストに挑戦してみませんか？
皆さんのご応募をお待ちしています！https://t.co/Pj4HzglQqI#DQ12
Possibly More Action-Packed Battle System
Recent games in the series have followed the more laidback turn-based approach. This is good if you want to make use of your time before making decisions, but most games nowadays implement the active approach, pushing players to make critical decisions in real-time.
Dragon Quest XII may be ditching the familiar formula in favor of a more action-packed battle system. In an announcement, game director Yuji Horii said that they are considering changing things up when it comes to the game’s combat style.
While the more active approach to combat is not new in the series, this could pave the way for future titles in the franchise to adopt the system.
Darker Storyline
One of the most interesting aspects of any Dragon Quest game is its story. Most of what was made so far leaned toward a joyful outcome, but the new entry in the series may go for a darker tone.
Horii was somewhat vague when it comes to the game’s plot, but the game director did say that the upcoming title will be a stark departure from previous entries.
Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate is still currently in development and we do not know what platforms will be supported at launch. Since it will be using the new Unreal Engine 5, the game will most likely be introduced on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
What do you think of the upcoming game in the series?
