A new interview has appeared between Japanese publication Denfaminicogamer and Dragon Quest creator, Yuji Horii, and has been translated into English by Noisy Pixel. Mr. Horii pulls no punches when he says that the upcoming Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate will take some time to be released and points towards the fact that the long-awaited game is targeting an older audience than they have previously, presumably to boost the franchises fortunes here in the west where it lags behind the core Final Fantasy series of games. Here’s what was said:
Well, let me start by saying that this year marks the 37th anniversary of the Dragon Quest series, and to coincide with the 35th anniversary, an HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III has been announced, and there are rumors that the latest title, Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate is about to be released?
Horii: Mmm, I guess it will take a little while. This time we are making a game directed toward an adult audience*, so we are having a lot of trouble (laughs). There was also the Coronavirus pandemic.
Are the game programmers and designers basically working remotely?
Horii: Yes, some employees have not come to the office for about a year, and some don’t even use the company’s computers, preferring to work from home.
Do you encounter any communication problems [with this method]?
Horii: Basically, we use Zoom to communicate with each other. I have a hard time remembering people’s faces and names, so Zoom is just right for me with the names underneath (laughs).
*TL Note: Horii uses 大人向け here, an expression where the subject (in this case, 大人, meaning adult) is the target audience.
I hate the assumption that previous Dragon Quest titles were somehow not for adult audiences. Just because they were colorful and had some comedy? The series has had some of the darkest plot points that I’ve seen in a RPG. I’ll be very disappointed if they go grimdark, mistaking aesthetics for maturity. But time will tell.
They got Final Fantasy for the more dark, mature RPG; Dragon Quest doesn’t need to do the same.
ok boomer
The concern for me is less around the visuals, but more the actual mechanics. Combat is such an important legacy in both FF and DQ, they have absolutely ruined FF for me in that respect, I just hope they remain true to the entire foundations of these games for DQ
I think what their doing this case is EXCLUSIVELY going for the more edgy dark appeal of more mature-rated games.
That’s not to say Dragon Quest isn’t for adult audiences, just that those game were made for EVERYONE, so this iteration is given more freedom than the other titles.
They were baby games, literally a kids first JRPG. Of course they weren’t for adults, they were specifically designed for young children. If you think they were for adults you need to start growing up.
All us adults just want 4-9 to get the same treatment 1-3 got. Why do they want to let those die.
Especially 9, its the only game to never get a port. I definitely want all 12 games on the Switch (10 offline of course)
I have a very bad feeling that they are going to ruin Dragon quest with XII
So… Does that mean Blood, Boobs or just mature subject matter. Because Dragon Quest tends to have some mature subject matter and who can forget the Puff Puffs.
You would think games like Zelda would prove that your game doesn’t need to be “for adults” to be a gigantic hit with adults. I appreciate Dragon Quest specifically because it’s a series I can share with children and adults.
I feel like 12 will be non turn based. Will probably be a full departure for sure
I don’t want it to be ‘for adults’ because DQ11 was like a time machine to my NES youth… the music, the art style, I felt like an excited kid playing the game, exploring… I’m 44 so that feeling doesn’t really happen very often. If it ain’t broke…
That said, they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt from me so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it, and I’ll keep an open mind. Even if it’s different, that’s okay so long as it’s well thought out, it won’t erase the previous games.
It is stupid ,wrong and lazy for Yuji and Square Enix to allow the team working on Dragon Quest XII to work remotely. There is no more need to work remotely anymore, and the Dragon Quest XII team are wrong for being lazy and working remotely since 2022.
Shame on them those lazy slackers
I will never play Dragon Quest XII because of this. How dare they do this to us fans by working remotely since 2022. I refuse to play their games again until they end remote work forever (when there isn’t a pandemic happening)
I swear to God I am going bribe someone in Japan to go to the homes of the Dragon Quest XII and then to kidnap the Dragon Quest XII team from their homes and literally drag them to the office to work in person together on Dragon Quest XII and all future Dragon Quest games (except during a pandemic)
Or Maybe I will break into Yuji’s home and force him to give his Dragon Quest XII team of woke freaks an ultimatium, : work on DQ XII and all Dragon Quest games in person or be fired. What a bunch of evil twats. Japan is nothing but United States 2.0. Now these asshats have copied remote work. F that. no more
I am serious, these bums have gone woke. These losers are too lazy to come to the office and work on a video game? They are a disgrace to Japanese culture and Japan and they should be fired
not trying to start a fight here but i think you have a few misconceptions about remote work first it is my understanding that remote work doesnt mean they work less just from home and as stated they use zoom for communication so it is in essence no different from the workplace and considering some of the workplace problems i have heard about in game development working from home for some people might improve their work output not lessen it to have the ability to work from home in the first place has requirements in game developments case computer ones you need not only a good enough computer but also access to the various programs they use i am assuming since they work from home they have that they also still most likely work with the same dead lines so not really easier in all likely hood and if the dead lines changed in my view thats more likely because they took a stand about being overworked which from my limited understanding has been a long standing problem in the industry as a whole for many of the positions not just for the dragon quest crew and has been for years now while it might take longer its more likely the end product will also be better
Shut The Fuck Up!
You Sound like a Retarded 12 year old!
We, as adults, simply wish for the same care and attention to be given to ages 4-9 as it was to ages 1-3. Why are they willing to allow harm to come to those children, you can also check the fortune of dragons and stars on LaCelebrite.