Dynasty Warrior 9 is taking a lot of new steps with a long-standing, and beloved, franchise. For the first time ever, the series is taking their narrative to new open-world heights. Immersion and fluidity, these are the objectives for the next step in the Dynasty Warrior franchise. Koei Tecmo continues to roll out teasers as development continues, this time showing off a little more of the characters and what’s in store story-wise. Check out the latest Dynasty Warriors 9 images in the gallery below:

This is what Koei Tecmo had to say about the recent reveal:

The story of the Three Kingdoms will be presented over ten riveting chapters, each reflecting changes in the balance of power in the world and in the available actions to the player. Each Chapter takes the player a step deeper into the impressive military and political machinations of the era, beginning with the Yellow Turban Rebellion through the ultimate unification of China.”

This gallery also serves as a fantastic introduction of the new character joining the fight; Xun You. There is a lot of new occurring within the next installment of the Dynasty Warrior series, however the title will still be recognizable to long-time players. The lore continues, familiar characters make their return (Over 83, in fact), and the traditional hack-and-slash mechanics are still vividly apparent.

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At this time, fans have yet to receive word on when the latest game will be releasing, but the team has made it clear that Japan will get their hands on it first. Are you excited to experience the changes Tecmo is making to the franchise? How do you feel about the new Dynasty Warriors 9 images above? Join in on the conversation in the comment section below, and don’t forget to check out DFTG on Twitter for gaming and entertainment news live 24/7!