Square Enix’s Team Asano, famous for bringing us gems like Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, is gearing up for some big releases in 2025. Studio head Tomoya Asano recently shed light on their ambitious plans during a chat about next year’s aims. Known for their innovative HD-2D graphics, used in remakes such as Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Edition, it seems 2025 might just see both new games and some beloved classics getting a fresh look.
Earlier this year, a leaker sparked buzz around a possible new game from Team Asano with fans speculating eagerly. Many are betting on a new chapter in the Bravely Default saga following the Bravely Default 2 release in 2021. There’s also talk of a sequel to Live A Live after its successful remake. While projects like Triangle Strategy have won hearts, Various Daylife hasn’t quite hit the mark, so it’s unlikely we’ll see more from that corner.
In an enlightening chat with 4Gamer, translated by Gematsu, Tomoya Asano shared, “We’ll be rolling out the various things we’ve been preparing.” His comments fuel anticipation for remakes of Dragon Quest 1 and 2, slated to use the same HD-2D style as Dragon Quest 3. However, Asano hinted that there is more in store beyond these two, which are set to launch bundled together.
Since the Live A Live remake announcement in 2022, Square Enix has teased more HD-2D remakes, whetting fans’ appetites. While Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D was mentioned back then, the first two entries of the series weren’t. With such potential for makeovers, several classic Square Enix titles might benefit from this graphical upgrade, possibly aligning with the anticipated lineup for the Switch 2 in 2025.
Yet, while Tomoya Asano’s vision for upcoming Square Enix JRPGs is tantalizing, we should tread lightly. In early 2024, he got fans of the Bravely series buzzing with a hopeful tweet. But unless something major drops by year’s end, it seems concrete news about Bravely Default might be deferred to 2025, keeping us eagerly waiting.
