Dynasty Warriors Devs Told "Kill the Player"

Dynasty Warriors: Origins ramps up the challenge with more aggressive enemy encounters—producer Tomohiko Sho famously urged the development team to "go all out and destroy players." Discover how this philosophy reshapes the latest chapter of the legendary action series.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Delivers a Brutally Authentic Combat Experience

Developer Mandate: "Eliminate the Player"

Dynasty Warriors: Origins intensifies the signature combat formula with deadlier adversaries, following producer Tomohiko Sho's bold directive: "This time, show no mercy—crush the player."

In an exclusive PlayStation.Blog interview, Sho revealed the design philosophy behind the enhanced difficulty. The team aimed to capture battlefield realism—every warrior, whether hero or grunt, fights desperately for survival. This creates dynamic clashes where enemies intelligently press their advantage rather than serving as mere cannon fodder.

Sho emphasizes the game avoids unfair frustration—each victory feels earned through mastery. "Newcomers can progressively learn mechanics and taste success," he notes. Balancing the series' signature power fantasy against tactical battlefield tension proved challenging, requiring AI that threatens players without undermining the cathartic "one-versus-thousands" Musou essence.

A Groundbreaking Reinvention

Breaking series tradition, Origins abandons numerical sequencing—what would have been Dynasty Warriors 10 becomes a bold reboot. This represents the franchise's first-ever non-numbered mainline entry.

The "Origins" subtitle reflects a narrative shift: the game exclusively covers the early Three Kingdoms period through the climactic Battle of Red Cliffs. Sho explained to TheGamer at TGS 2024, "We're laser-focused on delivering this iconic saga's most intense chapters with unprecedented depth." This concentrated scope allows richer character development and historical detail.

As the first main installment in seven years, Origins introduces a customizable protagonist—the Nameless Hero—navigating China's warring factions during the Han Dynasty's collapse. Blending history with legend, it revitalizes the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms through immersive combat.

Now available on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S since January 17, Dynasty Warriors: Origins redefines hack-and-slash warfare with its brutal new vision.

Explore Game8's in-depth review for combat insights!