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One of Square Enix's most long-standing role-playing game series Dragon Quest is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary this 2021. As part of the festivities, Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate was announced in May 2021 through a short teaser trailer. Now, even before Square Enix has shared any updates about its development, the company trademarks 'The Flames of Fate,' possibly hinting that the video game may be released sooner than expected.
Though not one of the most popular Square Enix video game franchises in the West, the Japanese market seems to thoroughly enjoy anything and everything Dragon Quest. Most numbered titles in the series are often a successful hit in the Asian country, so it is not surprising that Square Enix exploits this market through all sorts of unique Dragon Quest-themed merchandise, and even through the opening of a dedicated Dragon Quest theme park. With such massive popularity in Japan, the series' reputation was bound to penetrate the Western audience, especially for JRPG and Square Enix fans.
Just this November, Square Enix filed a trademark for 'The Flames of Fate.' This action by the company is likely an indication that announcements about Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate may be coming very soon. Fans will likely recall that during the Dragon Quest 35th anniversary stream aired last May 2021, other video game projects under the series were also announced. Square Enix was able to share release date and platform details to help fans plot out their gaming calendars. However, Dragon Quest 12 did not receive the same treatment, and the vague teaser trailer revealed during the stream likely left fans to speculate about the upcoming title.
Though it has been revealed that Dragon Quest 12 is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, the trademarking of 'The Flames of Fate' does not provide details about the upcoming game's rating or possible platforms. However, it shows that the trademark will apply to a whole range of merchandise, not limited to gaming software. With how popular Dragon Quest is in Japan, Square Enix is likely preparing to create a whole lineup of products that are based off Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate.
Square Enix seems to be gearing Dragon Quest 12 more for adults, especially since the series creator Yuji Horii stated that the team is going for darker themes, the latest title may appeal to a wider audience. Hopefully the development team will clear the air and finally provide the fanbase with official news before the series' 35th anniversary ends in December 2021.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is currently in development.