The next adventure in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate, is set to shape the franchise's future games for at least a decade, according to publisher Square Enix. The Dragon Quest series began back in the late 1980s, and the future of the classic RPGs is glowing as brightly as its past.

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate was first announced earlier this summer during the games' 35th-anniversary livestream. Revealed with a short trailer, Dragon Quest 12 is already looking a lot darker than its predecessor, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, which was released in 2017. Unfortunately, fans of the franchise have yet to see any gameplay from the upcoming title, with the reveal just a short cinematic teaser that gave little away other than the title. Thankfully, some details are known. As well as sporting a darker tone, Dragon Quest 12 will tweak its turn-based combat in favor of a more action-RPG style.

Related: Microsoft Hinting More Dragon Quest Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass

Details on the new game may be thin on the ground, but it's been confirmed that Dragon Quest 12 will be instrumental in shaping the next 10 to 20 years of the franchise. In a new issue of Japanese publication Famitsu (via Ryotukya2089 and Gematsu), Square Enix president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda spoke a little about the upcoming release, noting its importance in the Dragon Quest canon, and teased the future of the series. “Dragon Quest XII is being developed taking into account the next 10 to 20 years of the Dragon Quest series,” Matsuda said, hinting that characters, stories, or the tone could be a recurring theme in the future.

While it's not clear exactly just what the franchise will look like in the years to come, some fans are concerned about the apparent pivot to a darker tone, with the series being known for its lighthearted and comedic style. Speaking on just how the new game will evolve on the franchise's existing formula, Matsuda said: “There are parts that remain consistent with the traditional image of Dragon Quest, but new elements are also necessary. After all, as a brand we always need to innovate.” Aside from the previously-confirmed move away from turn-based mechanics, these innovations remain to be seen. While a launch date hasn't yet been announced, Dragon Quest 12 will have a worldwide release.

As players wait patiently for more news on Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate, it's been confirmed that MMORPG Dragon Quest X Online won't be getting a Western release any time soon. The game has launched across multiple Nintendo platforms, as well as mobile devices since it was first released for Nintendo Wii in 2012, yet Dragon Quest X Online is still only available in Japan. Fans outside of Japan have been hoping for a worldwide release of the game for many years now, but during the 35th-anniversary livestream event Square Enix confirmed there are still no plans to bring Dragon Quest X Online to the West.

Next: Every New Dragon Quest Game Revealed In The 35th Anniversary Livestream

Dragon Quest 12 does not yet have a release date.

Source: Ryotukya2089 (via Gematsu)