Square Enix has shaken up the gaming world with a major announcement for Dragon Quest fans! The Japanese powerhouse revealed today that they've restarted development of the long-awaited Dragon Quest 12 from scratch, ditching its original subtitle, The Flames of Fate, in favor of the thrilling new moniker, Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams. During a special video to celebrate Dragon Quest's 40th anniversary on May 27, executive producer Yosuke Saito and game designer Yuji Horii shared insights about the upcoming game's current state. Saito confirmed that while they're putting in maximum effort on the project, gamers will have to be patient as it'll take a little longer for the title to land in their hands. The development overhaul was prompted by a team reshuffle, with the original version facing numerous obstacles along the way. Horii and Saito believe this fresh start will lead to an engaging experience that appeals to a wider audience of Dragon Quest enthusiasts. The update also provided some tantalizing details about Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams' protagonist, story, and themes. The hero now experiences mysterious visions during sleep, and the plot delves into what lies beyond these dreams. The game's direction has changed from the darker tone initially planned for The Flames of Fate, promising a bright and exciting future. Despite the changes, classic Dragon Quest elements will remain intact, with Akira Toriyama's iconic character designs and Koichi Sugiyama's epic score still featuring prominently. Although both creatives have passed away, they managed to complete their work for Dragon Quest 12 before departing. The developers are also planning to take the RPG series to new heights with innovative gameplay elements that fans have never seen in a Dragon Quest game before. While Saito and Horii did not provide any hints about a release timeline, they also announced spin-off title Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World will be coming to various platforms like PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch, and the yet-to-be-released Switch 2. The game will feature Dragon Quest 5’s Nera and Bianca as dual protagonists. Additionally, Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age will be making its way to the Switch 2 on September 24. Verity Townsend, a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor, and translator for Automaton West, broke the news. Townsend has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.