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.
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins is set to release on January 17, 2025, featuring hack-and-slash combat set in the Three Kingdoms Era.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins emerged from a bittersweet beginning, as its developers had initially been working on what would have been the 10th mainline installment in the series before deciding to cancel it in favor of the new game. Deluxe Edition players have already experienced the fast-paced combat of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, but the game's development was influenced by a significant technological leap that occurred four years ago.
For those not opting for early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is scheduled for release on January 17, 2025. The game retains the series' signature free-roaming hack-and-slash combat style, introduced since the second mainline installment in 2000, and casts players as a mysterious, amnesiac character interacting with renowned officers from China's Three Kingdoms Era.
While some fans have already stepped into the shoes of Dynasty Warriors: Origins' nameless protagonist, the development team at Omega Force recently shared that another game in the series was canceled before the start of Origins' development. In an interview with Japanese site 4Gamer, translated to English by SiliconEra, development producer Masamichi Oba revealed that the team had been working on a "phantom number title" under the Dynasty Warriors brand. This canceled title would have followed a stage-clearing format similar to 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7, differing significantly from the final product that early access players are currently enjoying.
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. Recognizing the potential of these modern systems, the developers shifted their strategy for the next game while still integrating some of the best features from previous Dynasty Warriors titles.
According to Oba, despite the difficulty in leaving the other project behind, the team successfully incorporated some of its elements into Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This includes the introduction of a free-roaming map, which Oba had wanted to add to the canceled title, along with a deeper exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's story.
