Koei Tecmo has confirmed that Romance of the Three Kingdoms XV is in production. At the end of the special stage event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, executive producer Kou Shibusawa clearly stated that a new entry "will definitely be made." He will hand over development duties to a younger team while personally overseeing the project with strict supervision.
The event was held on September 19 during Tokyo Game Show 2026. Kou Shibusawa appeared on stage dressed as Zhuge Liang, joining Yukihiro Ito, Kazuhiro Echigoya, and Katsuhiro Ano—who have all led development on series titles—to look back on the production history of Romance of the Three Kingdoms since its debut in 1985.
During the development of the first game, the company had only about 30 employees, and the project team had to balance other works as well. As a result, it took four years to complete Romance of the Three Kingdoms II. When creating the battle maps for this title, the team needed to piece together 41 separate map segments into a single large map, using rivers and mountains to connect the edges of each terrain section.
The series has continuously adjusted its gameplay since then. Romance of the Three Kingdoms VII, released in 2000, was the first to allow players to experience the chaotic era from the perspectives of different officers, rather than being limited to the ruler's viewpoint. Romance of the Three Kingdoms IX, released in 2003, returned to the ruler's perspective and adopted a single large map that provides an overview of the entire realm, allowing officers and troops to act on the same timeline.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV, released in 2020, integrated the territory expansion mechanic from earlier titles—where players spread their faction's color—into a single large map. The gameplay emphasizes both territorial expansion and frontline supply lines. Results from the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms General Election" announced at the event showed that Japanese players' votes were more concentrated on recent entries, while players in other parts of Asia rated Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI highly for its combination of a 3D single large map and detailed domestic administration.
In the gameplay elements poll, over 60% of players chose "Ruler Roleplay." Players in other parts of Asia also placed significant importance on geographical realism, such as rugged terrain serving as natural barriers to advancement. The latest release, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV with Power-Up Kit: Legacy Edition, further refines character illustrations, depicting the different states of officers like Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang through their poses, age, and circumstances.
The 40th-anniversary concert for the series is scheduled for December 12, 2026, where an orchestra will perform music from across the series, including the theme from the first game, "Oath of the Peach Garden." While confirming that Romance of the Three Kingdoms XV is in production, Kou Shibusawa has not yet announced the release date, platforms, or specific gameplay details for the new title.