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, enhancing the game with more modern and strategic gameplay.
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins is scheduled for release on January 17, 2025, and features hack-and-slash combat set in the Three Kingdoms Era.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins emerged from a bittersweet journey, as its developers at Omega Force had initially been working on what was intended to be the 10th mainline installment in the series. However, the project was ultimately canceled to pave the way for the creation of Dynasty Warriors: Origins. While Deluxe Edition players have already experienced the fast-paced combat of this new title, the game's development was influenced by significant technological advancements over the past four years.

For those who haven't opted for early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is set to launch on January 17, 2025. The game retains the beloved free-roaming hack-and-slash combat style that has been a hallmark of the series since its second mainline entry in 2000. Players will step into the role of a mysterious, amnesiac character, engaging with iconic officers from China's Three Kingdoms Era.

While some fans have already immersed themselves in the world of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, the development team at Omega Force recently shared insights into the canceled project that preceded it. In an interview with the Japanese site 4Gamer, translated by SiliconEra, development producer Masamichi Oba revealed that the team had been working on a "phantom number title" within the Dynasty Warriors series. This canceled game would have followed a stage-clearing format similar to 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7, diverging significantly from the final product enjoyed by early access players.

Dynasty Warriors 10 Was Canceled to Make the Best Dynasty Warriors Possible

The decision to cancel the 10th mainline game, as producer Tomohiko Sho explained in the same interview, was driven by the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other current-generation consoles. After witnessing the potential of these modern systems, the development team chose to pivot their strategy for the next title while still integrating some of the best features from previous Dynasty Warriors games.

According to Oba, despite the difficulty of abandoning the previous project, the team managed to incorporate several of its elements into Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This includes the introduction of a free-roaming map, which had been a desired feature for the canceled title, and a deeper exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's rich narrative.