Dragon Quest 12 remains in active development, with series creator Yuji Horii reassuring fans that information about the game will be shared gradually. During a livestream with his radio show group KosoKoso Hōsō Kyoku, as reported by Automaton, Horii emphasized that the development team at Square Enix is diligently working on the project. This update marks the first significant news since May 2024, when Horii had previously mentioned the passing of Dragon Quest's character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Additionally, it was noted that the series' lead producer, Yu Miyake, had stepped down to take a leadership role in Square Enix's mobile game division.
Concerns had arisen among the fanbase regarding the possibility of Dragon Quest 12 being canceled, fueled by restructuring at Square Enix and a scarcity of updates. However, Horii's recent statements have alleviated these fears, confirming that the game is indeed progressing.
Announced as part of the Dragon Quest series' 35th anniversary celebration, Dragon Quest 12 will be the first mainline entry since Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age in 2017. In the meantime, Square Enix has celebrated success with the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, which surpassed sales expectations by selling 2 million copies.