Orca is co-developing Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate alongside Square Enix, the companies have announced alongside news they’re hiring new staff to develop the sequel.

While Orca is co-developing Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, the company is hiring new staff specifically with experience in Unreal Engine 5, as that is what the game was previously confirmed to be assembled with.

Further, Orca is working on Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate alongside unannounced game content also built within Unreal Engine. Orca has co-developed other games with Square Enix and Bandai Namco like Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, among other games.

Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate was announced back in May of this year with a worldwide simultaneous release, however development platforms aren’t confirmed. Orca is one of two co-developers on the project, alongside Hexa Drive.

Previously, Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda said that Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate is being created “with the next 10 to 20 years of the DQ series in mind,” setting the stage for high expectations on the forthcoming sequel and the series’ future in general.

At the time of the game’s announcement, series creator Yuji Horii described the game as “an adult Dragon Quest,” and noted how decisions players or the character makes will change the game dramatically. A voice in the announcement trailer stated “what is the purpose of light?”, suggesting the story might be darker compared to the standard fare the series is known for.