Capcom has confirmed that Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen will feature a new Hard Mode when it launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this October. The addition is specifically aimed at veteran players looking for a more demanding experience as they reach the game's stat cap.
Hard Mode and Gameplay Adjustments
In a recent Steam Q&A, producer Naoto Oyama and director Kento Kinoshita detailed the upcoming content. Kinoshita noted that while the base game's difficulty naturally scales throughout the expansion, the new Hard Mode is intended to provide a “satisfying challenge” for those who have already maximized their character's progression.
Beyond the difficulty settings, the development team also confirmed updates to the base game's combat mechanics. An update arriving in August will increase the number of weapon skill sets available to players from four to six. While the Dark Arisen expansion itself will not introduce new vocations, it will include new skills for existing classes.
Accessing New Content
The expansion includes two distinct new experiences: Forsaken Dominion and Lost Rites. Developers have provided recommended starting levels for these additions to guide player progression:
- Forsaken Dominion: Recommended level 40.
- Lost Rites: Recommended level 20.
Players can access these new areas by speaking to the character Brant at the tavern in Vernworth. According to Oyama, these recommendations serve as a reference, allowing players to choose their own path through the expansion content based on their preferred difficulty.