Dragon Quest Marks 40 Years with a Major Milestone Achievement

On May 27, 1986, Enix launched a game called Dragon Quest in Japan. Fast forward 40 years, and that company has evolved into Square Enix, with Dragon Quest standing tall as one of the most beloved and impactful RPG franchises in gaming history. To commemorate this significant anniversary, the series has hit another impressive sales milestone.

On the morning of September 16, the Dragon Quest X account announced that the franchise has now sold over 100 million units worldwide. To celebrate this achievement, series creator Yuji Horii expressed his gratitude to fans, stating, “Thank you all so much. As Dragon Quest reaches its 40th anniversary milestone, I’m filled with gratitude that we can share such wonderful news. We’ll continue working hard to bring you adventures that fill you with excitement, and I hope you’ll continue to support us.” He then enjoyed a delightful cake adorned with iconic monsters from the series.

To date, there have been 11 mainline entries in the series, along with a plethora of spin-offs spanning various genres. The franchise has also expanded into novels, manga, and anime adaptations. Later this year, fans can look forward to the release of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World.

During this year’s Dragon Quest 40th anniversary livestream, Square Enix provided an update on Dragon Quest 12. Initially announced in 2021 under the title The Flames of Fate, executive producer Yosuke Saito revealed that the project faced numerous challenges, prompting the team to start fresh. The game is now officially titled Dragon Quest 12: Beyond Dreams.

While the original announcement hinted at a darker tone with The Flames of Fate, Beyond Dreams appears to align more closely with the expectations of long-time fans. No additional details have been shared since then, and there is currently no release date or timeframe available.

The new footage arrives as the RPG series celebrates its 40th anniversary.