Dynasty Warriors 10 Was Canceled

Summary

Technological advancements led to the cancellation of the 10th mainline Dynasty Warriors game.
Elements from the canceled Dynasty Warriors 10 were incorporated into Dynasty Warriors: Origins to enhance gameplay.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins, launching January 17, 2025, features classic hack-and-slash combat set during the Three Kingdoms Era.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins has an interesting backstory. Its developers initially worked on a planned 10th mainline installment, but ultimately canceled it to create the new game. Deluxe Edition players have already experienced its fast-paced combat, a testament to significant technological advancements over the past four years.

For those without early access, Dynasty Warriors: Origins releases January 17, 2025. Maintaining the series' signature free-roaming hack-and-slash combat (a hallmark since the 2000 sequel), players embody a mysterious amnesiac navigating the iconic Three Kingdoms Era.

While many fans have already played, Omega Force developers recently revealed a canceled predecessor. In a 4Gamer interview (translated by SiliconEra), producer Masamichi Oba discussed a "phantom number title." This abandoned project, 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 entry stemmed from witnessing the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and other contemporary consoles. The team shifted strategies, leveraging the power of modern hardware. However, they retained key elements from previous Dynasty Warriors titles.

Oba noted that elements from the canceled project were salvaged for Origins. This includes the free-roaming map, a feature he’d envisioned for the canceled title, and a richer exploration of the Three Kingdoms Era's narrative. While abandoning the previous project was difficult, the team successfully integrated its best features into the final product.