Summary
- The 10th mainline installment in the Dynasty Warriors franchise was canceled due to technological advancements.
- The canceled Dynasty Warriors 10 led to the incorporation of elements into Origins for more modern and strategic gameplay.
- The release date for Dynasty Warriors: Origins is January 17, 2025, with the game featuring hack-and-slash combat set in the Three Kingdoms Era.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins emerged from a bittersweet beginning, as its developers initially worked on what was poised to be the 10th mainline installment in the series. This project was eventually canceled to pave the way for the new game. Deluxe Edition players have already experienced the fast-paced combat of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, a game that might not have been possible without significant technological advancements over the past four years.
For those who did not opt for early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is scheduled for release on January 17, 2025. The game retains the iconic free-roaming, hack-and-slash combat style that the series has been celebrated for since its second mainline installment in 2000. Players will step into the role of a mysterious, amnesiac protagonist, navigating the world of China's Three Kingdoms Era and interacting with legendary officers.
While some fans have already explored the game, members of Omega Force, the development team, have recently disclosed the cancellation of another project prior to the development of Origins. In an interview with the Japanese site 4Gamer, translated by SiliconEra, development producer Masamichi Oba revealed that the team was working on a "phantom number title" under the Dynasty Warriors brand. This canceled title would have featured stage-clearing gameplay similar to 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7, but with a format significantly different from what early access players are currently experiencing.
Dynasty Warriors 10 Was Canceled to Make the Best Dynasty Warriors Possible
The primary reason for canceling the 10th mainline game, as explained by producer Tomohiko Sho in the same interview, was the team's exposure to the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other current-generation consoles. Witnessing the potential of modern hardware, the developers shifted their strategy for the next game while still integrating some of the best elements from previous Dynasty Warriors titles.
According to Oba, despite the difficulty in abandoning the previous project, the team successfully incorporated some of its features into Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This includes enhanced travel mechanics, as Oba had long desired to introduce a free-roaming map, and a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative.
