Bianca (Dragon Quest V)
Illustration: WhyTrend

On May 27, 2026 — exactly 40 years after the original Dragon Quest launched in Japan — Square Enix held a special 10-minute YouTube broadcast to share updates on the franchise's future. The stream closed with a major surprise: the announcement of Dragon Quest Monsters 4, subtitled 'Bianca and Flora in the Land of Withered Trees.' The game centers on childhood versions of Bianca and Flora, two of the most iconic characters in the Dragon Quest series.

In Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, the player must choose one of them as a marriage partner — a decision that has divided fans for decades. Bianca is the hero's childhood friend from the village of Whealbrook, while Flora is the daughter of a wealthy merchant the adult hero encounters later. The new Monsters title appears to explore their stories before those events, though full plot details have not been revealed.

In terms of platforms, DQM4 is confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Windows PC. Notably, this marks the first time a Dragon Quest Monsters game has come to Xbox, which drew particular excitement from fans on that platform. No release date or price has been announced; the official website (dragonquest.

jp/monsters4/) is now live. The previous entry, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (DQM3), launched on Nintendo Switch on December 1, 2023, and later came to Steam, iOS, and Android in September 2024. DQM4 represents the next step for the monster-collecting spin-off series.

What to watch next: Square Enix has promised further details at a later date. Keep an eye on the official Dragon Quest website and social channels for a release window, gameplay footage, and pricing information. The 40th anniversary broadcast is available to rewatch on YouTube.