It’s been just over a month since Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hit shelves and Square Enix has been rolling in the accolades, at least for the game.
So what’s next?
This question is more about the next blockbuster game for Square Enix. There are some smaller franchises coming up such as SaGa Emerald Beyond and Visions of Mana but not much in the top tier.
If you visit Square Enix’s release schedule, you’ll see a lot of TBAs on the horizon. SaGA Emerald Beyond is the only game with a definitive release date and Visions of Mana is planned for this year sometime.
This lull comes on the heels of two big releases in the Final Fantasy department with likely no major releases for a while outside of a rumored Final Fantasy IX remake. That leaves us with Dragon Quest XII and Kingdom Hearts IV.
We’ve seen teases for both DQXII and KHIV, but nothing definitive. That means, at least in the view of the public, they likely are at a similar point in development.
So which one will surface first?
Dragon Quest has had its fair share of spinoff games in recent years since the success of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Square Enix did announce a 2D-HD remake of Dragon Quest III, which seems to be the closest release for the franchise.
What may impact the chances of DQXII getting an update soon is the passing of Akira Toriyama. On the other hand, that same reason could be a reason not to rush it. There is a trailer from 2021 for DQXII but it is essentially a cinematic logo reveal.
Kingdom Hearts IV has a cinematic trailer with what appears to be some gameplay but nothing else since the 2022 trailer as part of the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
It’s important to note that it took almost six years between when Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts III and when it released. At that rate, we wouldn’t see a release until 2028.
I believe Kingdom Hearts IV is the next franchise to get an update. That said, I think we’ll be lucky to hear anything about either franchise in 2024.
Dragon Quest XII did get an update of sorts as reports indicate that Yu Miyake, lead produce for Dragon Quest, was shifting to a new role amid a company restructure and downsize.
While this doesn’t necessarily make it impossible for an update, it certainly hurts its chances. Plus, there is less out there about DQXII, meaning the company can afford to hold back for the time being.
Kingdom Hearts IV, on the other hand, has a lot more revealed. Sure, we likely won’t see the game for a while, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get more word on it sooner rather than later.
The release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth left a void in Square Enix’s release schedule that either Dragon Quest XII or Kingdom Hearts IV can fill. The problem is neither seems to be ready to take on that role yet.
I think Square Enix rides out this schedule and likely provide an update late this year or early next. It’s recent restructuring indicates it has some things to figure out before either come out.
So what do you think? Will we get an update on Dragon Quest XII or Kingdom Hearts IV first? Will it be this year? Which one are you most excited to see release? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Square Enix
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