Dragon Quest 12 gets a new name as Square Enix reveals another Xbox bound Dragon Quest game

Square Enix used Dragon Quest’s 40th anniversary showcase to share two major updates for the franchise, including a renamed Dragon Quest 12 and a brand new Dragon Quest Monsters game that is also coming to Xbox Series X and S. The showcase was short, but it gave fans a clearer look at where the long running RPG series is heading next.

The biggest update is Dragon Quest 12, which is now officially called Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams. The game was previously known as Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, but Square Enix confirmed that development has restarted under a new structure after the project ran into several hurdles.

That explains why the game has been quiet for so long. Dragon Quest 12 was first announced years ago, but Square Enix has shown very little of it since then. The new title, refreshed logo, and early gameplay footage suggest the company is trying to reset expectations rather than continue with the old reveal.

Dragon Quest 12 is still alive, but it may be further away than fans hoped

The development restart is both good and bad news. On one hand, it confirms Dragon Quest 12 has not disappeared. On the other hand, it also suggests the game may still need a lot of work before release.

The second announcement was Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. This is a new entry in the monster collecting spin off series, and it is coming to Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC through Steam and Windows.

That Xbox release is important because Dragon Quest has not always been strongly represented on Microsoft’s consoles. Square Enix has been bringing more of its Japanese RPG lineup to Xbox recently, and The Withered World continues that shift.

The new Monsters game follows Bianca and Nera from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride. That connection should immediately make it more interesting for longtime fans, since Dragon Quest V remains one of the most beloved entries in the franchise.

Square Enix also shared a sales update for its HD 2D remakes. Dragon Quest I and II HD 2D Remake and Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake have now sold a combined 4 million copies across all platforms. That is a strong result for classic RPG remakes and shows that Dragon Quest still has a healthy audience beyond new mainline entries.

The showcase may have disappointed anyone expecting a long presentation, release dates, or detailed gameplay breakdowns. It only ran for about 10 minutes and focused on two announcements. Still, the information was meaningful. Dragon Quest 12 has a new identity, and Dragon Quest Monsters is expanding the series on modern platforms, including Xbox.

For Xbox players, this is another sign that Square Enix is treating the platform more seriously. Between the HD 2D remakes, newer Dragon Quest releases, and more Japanese RPG support, Xbox is slowly getting games that once felt unlikely on the platform.

The main question now is timing. Neither Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams nor Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World has a firm release date yet. But after years of silence around Dragon Quest 12, even a development reset gives fans something concrete to follow.

The 40th anniversary showcase was brief, but it made one thing clear: Dragon Quest is not slowing down. Square Enix is rebuilding the next mainline game while also preparing a new Monsters entry for Xbox and other platforms.