Summary

• The planned 10th mainline Dynasty Warriors game was canceled due to technological advancements.
• Elements from the canceled Dynasty Warriors 10 were incorporated into Origins to enhance gameplay and strategy.
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins, featuring hack-and-slash combat set in the Three Kingdoms Era, releases January 17, 2025.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins has an interesting backstory. Its developers initially worked on a planned 10th mainline installment, but ultimately canceled it to create Origins. Deluxe Edition players experienced its fast-paced combat early, but the game's existence hinges on a significant technological leap from four years prior.

For those without early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins launches January 17, 2025. Maintaining the series' signature free-roaming hack-and-slash combat (established in the 2000 sequel), players embody an amnesiac protagonist interacting with iconic figures from China's Three Kingdoms Era.

While some fans already played Origins, Omega Force revealed the cancellation of a previous, unnamed Dynasty Warriors title. An interview with 4Gamer (translated by SiliconEra) revealed that producer Masamichi Oba discussed this "phantom number title." This canceled game, similar in structure to 2011's Dynasty Warriors 7, differed significantly from Origins.

Dynasty Warriors 10's Cancellation: Forging a Better Dynasty Warriors

Producer Tomohiko Sho explained that the decision to cancel the 10th numbered title stemmed from witnessing the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other contemporary consoles. The team shifted their strategy, leveraging the potential of modern hardware while incorporating elements from past Dynasty Warriors games.

Oba added that elements from the canceled project were salvaged for Origins. This includes the free-roaming map, a feature he envisioned for the canceled title, and a more in-depth exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative. While abandoning the previous project was challenging, some of its best features found new life in Origins.