Square Enix Producer Signals Limited 2026 Announcements For Two Long-Running Series

Yosuke Saito has offered a restrained preview of Square Enix’s plans for 2026, suggesting modest announcements connected to two of the company’s most established franchises.

Speaking in a year-end interview roundtable published by 4Gamer and translated by Gematsu, the producer pointed to upcoming anniversary milestones for Dragon Quest and NieR: Automata, while carefully lowering expectations about their scale.

The comments surfaced as part of a broader annual feature in which Japanese developers outline goals and ambitions for the coming year. For Square Enix, 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest and the ninth anniversary of NieR: Automata, both properties closely associated with Yosuke Saito’s recent work. Rather than teasing large projects or naming new titles, Saito framed the plans as limited in scope and intentionally understated.

“Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Dragon Quest! I’d be extremely happy if everyone could join in on a grand celebration,” Saito said.

The Dragon Quest anniversary carries institutional weight for Square Enix. The series launched in 1986 and remains one of Japan’s most commercially reliable game franchises. Saito returned to a leadership role on Dragon Quest projects in April 2024 following internal restructuring, after previously stepping away from the core team once Dragon Quest XI was completed. His renewed involvement places him at the center of anniversary planning, though no specific products or events were named.

Saito paired the Dragon Quest comment with a brief reference to NieR: Automata, the 2017 action RPG developed with PlatinumGames and directed by Yoko Taro. Despite its age, the title continues to sell steadily and maintains a strong cultural presence through collaborations, concerts, and merchandise. Its ninth anniversary in 2026 does not align with a typical milestone year, which may explain the limited nature of what is being prepared.

“And for NieR: Automata’s ninth anniversary, we’re also preparing ‘just a little something,’ so please don’t get too excited with anticipation,” Saito added.

The wording stood out for its caution. In a media environment where anniversary years often precede major reveals, remakes, or sequel announcements, Saito’s phrasing suggested smaller-scale initiatives rather than new mainline releases. The absence of concrete details leaves open a range of possibilities, from minor in-game content and events to promotional activities or commemorative materials.

These remarks align with the overall tone of Square Enix’s presence in the 4Gamer feature. Other company representatives spoke in similarly general terms, emphasizing preparation and future challenges without disclosing projects. Takashi Anzai, known for Dragon Quest X Online, said only that he plans to announce new challenges in 2026. Kazutoyo Maehiro, whose credits span Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XVI, referenced an unnamed project using a “different approach,” again without elaboration.

The broader interview collection places Saito’s comments within a wider industry pattern. Across publishers and studios, developers repeatedly pointed to anniversary years as anchors for activity while avoiding specifics. Persona, Tales, Kunio-kun, CyberConnect2, and several other long-running brands are all set to mark major milestones in 2026. Most producers described internal preparation and future announcements rather than confirmed releases.

For Square Enix in particular, the measured tone reflects recent shifts in strategy. Over the past two years, the company has publicly reassessed its development pipeline, costs, and release cadence. Large-scale projects have faced delays or restructuring, while management has emphasized selectivity and global reach. Against that backdrop, Saito’s emphasis on moderation may signal an effort to manage expectations early.

The NieR series has often expanded through unconventional channels rather than traditional sequels. Stage plays, novels, mobile titles, concerts, and crossover appearances have sustained interest without committing to a numbered follow-up. A small anniversary initiative would be consistent with that history, especially given Yoko Taro’s repeated statements about creative fatigue and industry uncertainty.

Dragon Quest, by contrast, remains a cornerstone franchise with a defined future. Dragon Quest XII was announced in 2021 but has seen little public progress since. Saito’s comments did not reference the title, nor did they hint at its reappearance in 2026. The focus instead rested on celebration rather than continuation, suggesting that anniversary activities may exist alongside, rather than replace, longer-term development.

As with many year-end interviews, the value of Saito’s remarks lies less in what was revealed than in what was carefully avoided. No platforms, timelines, or formats were discussed. The language stayed deliberately narrow. For fans, that restraint may be as informative as any explicit tease.

Read also: Yoko Taro recently warned that advancing AI tools could displace human creators in game development, telling Famitsu that developers may one day resemble bards preserving stories rather than shaping them. The discussion included Kotaro Uchikoshi, Kazutaka Kodaka, and Jiro Ishii, all expressing concern over how authorship and creative control could shift as AI moves from support tool to primary creator.