Intro
Dragon Quest XII has officially moved into active development at Square Enix, series creator Yuji Horii confirmed during a recent livestream.
First announced by Square Enix in 2021, the next mainline Dragon Quest entry has been one of the studio’s most closely watched projects.
The franchise—created by Horii and long associated with JRPG design—has a history stretching back to the original Dragon Quest release in 1986 and remains a cornerstone property for Square Enix.
Livestream update and paraphrased statement
During the livestream, Horii told viewers that the Dragon Quest XII team is fully engaged in production.
In journalistic terms, Horii said the development team is working diligently on Dragon Quest XII and plans to share updates incrementally with fans as the project progresses.
This marks the clearest direct confirmation to date that the title is past early pre-production and into an active development phase.
Context: series history and platform presence
Dragon Quest is one of the longest-running JRPG franchises, first launching in 1986 and later becoming part of Square Enix following the Square and Enix merger in 2003.
Mainline entries and spin-offs have appeared across multiple platforms over the decades, and the series has maintained a presence on Nintendo hardware—most recently with ports and releases that reached Nintendo Switch audiences through retail and the Nintendo eShop.
Dragon Quest XI, the previous numbered entry, debuted in 2017 and helped maintain the series’ profile across consoles and PC.
What is verified
- Dragon Quest XII was publicly announced by Square Enix in 2021. - Yuji Horii is the original creator of the Dragon Quest series. - The Dragon Quest franchise has a long platform history that includes releases on Nintendo systems and availability of select titles on the Nintendo eShop. - Square Enix is the developer and publisher responsible for mainline Dragon Quest entries.
Why this matters for fans and the industry
A confirmed, active development status from Horii gives publishers, platform holders, and JRPG fans a concrete reference point for the project’s progress.
Square Enix’s stewardship of the franchise means Dragon Quest XII will follow a development path consistent with a high-profile, multi-platform release strategy, and fans can expect official updates from Square Enix and Horii over time.
Next steps
Square Enix has not announced a release date or platforms for Dragon Quest XII beyond confirming development.
Fans should watch official Square Enix channels and potential Nintendo Direct presentations for future announcements and release-window information.
Dragon Quest XII has officially moved into active development at Square Enix, series creator Yuji Horii confirmed during a recent livestream.
First announced by Square Enix in 2021, the next mainline Dragon Quest entry has been one of the studio’s most closely watched projects.
The franchise—created by Horii and long associated with JRPG design—has a history stretching back to the original Dragon Quest release in 1986 and remains a cornerstone property for Square Enix.
Livestream update and paraphrased statement
During the livestream, Horii told viewers that the Dragon Quest XII team is fully engaged in production.
In journalistic terms, Horii said the development team is working diligently on Dragon Quest XII and plans to share updates incrementally with fans as the project progresses.
This marks the clearest direct confirmation to date that the title is past early pre-production and into an active development phase.
Context: series history and platform presence
Dragon Quest is one of the longest-running JRPG franchises, first launching in 1986 and later becoming part of Square Enix following the Square and Enix merger in 2003.
Mainline entries and spin-offs have appeared across multiple platforms over the decades, and the series has maintained a presence on Nintendo hardware—most recently with ports and releases that reached Nintendo Switch audiences through retail and the Nintendo eShop.
Dragon Quest XI, the previous numbered entry, debuted in 2017 and helped maintain the series’ profile across consoles and PC.
What is verified
- Dragon Quest XII was publicly announced by Square Enix in 2021. - Yuji Horii is the original creator of the Dragon Quest series. - The Dragon Quest franchise has a long platform history that includes releases on Nintendo systems and availability of select titles on the Nintendo eShop. - Square Enix is the developer and publisher responsible for mainline Dragon Quest entries.
Why this matters for fans and the industry
A confirmed, active development status from Horii gives publishers, platform holders, and JRPG fans a concrete reference point for the project’s progress.
Square Enix’s stewardship of the franchise means Dragon Quest XII will follow a development path consistent with a high-profile, multi-platform release strategy, and fans can expect official updates from Square Enix and Horii over time.
Next steps
Square Enix has not announced a release date or platforms for Dragon Quest XII beyond confirming development.
Fans should watch official Square Enix channels and potential Nintendo Direct presentations for future announcements and release-window information.
