Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is a highly anticipated title, but one with next to nothing really shown so far. It has been almost two full years since Dragon Quest 12 was first announced, leaving many in the dark. The silence surrounding Dragon Quest 12 is doing more harm than good, and as a result, the time for an update may be sooner rather than later.

As arguably Square Enix's biggest property aside from Final Fantasy and one of the biggest JRPG franchises in general, Dragon Quest is an iconic series. With art by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama and a quirky sense of humor, the Dragon Quest franchise is home to a line of well-loved games, even if some of them never made it out of their country of origin. In addition to some of its heroes becoming playable fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Dragon Quest also got a shout-out in fellow RPG Yakuza: Like a Dragon, with the series having a vital role in forming protagonist Ichiban's worldview.

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Dragon Quest 12 Badly Needs A Status Update

Dragon Quest 11 Luminary in combat

At the moment, Dragon Quest 12 is in a similar situation to the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6. Both games were announced well in advance, then faded into silence while fans were left with nothing but speculation. One problem with this approach is that there is the danger of fans and prospective players either losing interest or getting frustrated with the wait. It doesn't help that several other series, most prominently The Legend of Zelda are also getting new installments, leaving Dragon Quest 12 in danger of being lost in the shuffle. Some new information would give players something to anticipate while shaping their expectations.

Another issue for Dragon Quest 12 comes in a more historical context. Starting with the original Dragon Quest for the NES, there has never been a stretch of longer than five years between two numbered Dragon Quest releases. However, Dragon Quest 11 came out in July 2017, so it has been almost six years since its release. The wait for Dragon Quest 12 has already broken a record for the series in that sense, which makes the lack of information on the game more frustrating. If anything, the gap between sequels only makes Dragon Quest 12 seem even more overdue.

Even though Dragon Quest 12's status is largely unknown, it still has a strong chance of succeeding upon release. Even before Dragon Quest 11 came to Game Pass, it was one of the most popular installments yet, earning widespread praise and breathing renewed life into the series. If Square Enix were to make an announcement about Dragon Quest 12, particularly during an event such as E3 or a Nintendo Direct, then it would stir that same enthusiasm up again, especially if paired with a trailer for the game. The Dragon Quest name still carries weight, and despite still being shrouded in mystery, Dragon Quest 12 is no exception.

Hopefully, an official announcement about Dragon Quest 12 by Square Enix is not too far away. Two years without any updates is a long time, and the silence surrounding Dragon Quest 12 is not doing anything to drive interest in the title. The industry is not slowing down, and major releases are only increasing in number. 2023 already looking to be stacked with significant titles, from the next Legend of Zelda to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's DLC waves. Square Enix needs to remind fans about Dragon Quest 12, because some may have forgotten its announcement in the first place.

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is currently in development.

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