Square Enix Renames Dragon Quest XII to Beyond Dreams

Square Enix used its 40th anniversary livestream to rename Dragon Quest XII to Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams after a full restart of development and to announce a new spin-off, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World.

Executive producer Yosuke Saito explained the change, saying the original project, Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, encountered significant hurdles that led to a team reshuffle and a complete restart. “We’re hard at work on XII, but due to a reshuffle of the team and a restart of development, it’s going to be a bit longer until it’s in your hands,” he said, adding that conversations with series creator Yuji Horii prompted a rethink of what a mainline Dragon Quest should be.

Footage shown during the event presented a brighter, more traditional Dragon Quest style than earlier reveals, centering on a spiky-haired protagonist wielding a sword and shield and gameplay spanning multiple distinct biomes.

Square Enix did not provide a release date for Beyond Dreams and said the restart means the project will require more time before launch.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is a new spin-off coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC. The title follows Bianca and Nera, characters introduced in Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride. Square Enix did not announce a release window for the spin-off.

The livestream marked four decades for the Dragon Quest franchise and focused on upcoming projects and changes to the mainline entry.