Dynasty Warriors Expansion Scrapped

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Rises from the Ashes of a Canceled Predecessor

The upcoming release of Dynasty Warriors: Origins on January 17, 2025, marks a significant milestone, but its journey began with a cancelled project. Omega Force, the developers, initially embarked on creating the 10th mainline entry in the Dynasty Warriors franchise. However, technological advancements spurred a strategic shift, leading to the cancellation of Dynasty Warriors 10 and the subsequent development of Origins.

This decision, according to producer Tomohiko Sho in an interview translated by SiliconEra, stemmed from witnessing the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other contemporary consoles. The potential unlocked by these systems prompted a change in development strategy, though not without incorporating valuable elements from previous titles.

Producer Masamichi Oba revealed that the cancelled Dynasty Warriors 10 would have resembled Dynasty Warriors 7 (2011), featuring stage-clearing gameplay. Despite the setback, key aspects of the abandoned project found their way into Origins. This includes the free-roaming map, a feature Oba had envisioned for the cancelled title, and a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative.

While Origins maintains the series' signature hack-and-slash combat, set against the backdrop of China's Three Kingdoms Era, its amnesiac protagonist offers a fresh perspective. The game's development showcases how technological leaps can reshape a project's direction, resulting in a potentially more refined and engaging experience. Deluxe Edition players have already experienced the fast-paced action, while the rest of the world awaits the official launch in January.