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

Dynasty Warriors: Origins, launching January 17, 2025, boasts a thrilling hack-and-slash experience set against the backdrop of China's Three Kingdoms Era. However, the game's development journey began with a surprising twist: the cancellation of its planned 10th mainline installment.

Omega Force, the development team, revealed in an interview with 4Gamer (translated by SiliconEra) that technological advancements spurred this decision. The capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other contemporary consoles inspired a shift in development strategy. While the planned Dynasty Warriors 10, envisioned as a stage-clearing game reminiscent of Dynasty Warriors 7, was scrapped, key elements were salvaged and integrated into Origins.

Producer Tomohiko Sho highlighted the impact of next-gen console power. The team recognized the potential for a more modern, strategic gameplay experience, leading to the pivot towards Origins. This involved incorporating elements from the abandoned project, including the free-roaming map and a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms narrative, as detailed by producer Masamichi Oba. While difficult, abandoning the previous project ultimately paved the way for a superior game. The result? A refined, engaging Dynasty Warriors experience that leverages modern technology to deliver a compelling and immersive Three Kingdoms adventure.