Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is the major expansion to Capcom's open-world action RPG Dragon's Dogma 2. It takes the Arisen's journey to the abandoned, snowy region of Norgan and adds a new story, extra enemies, new equipment and more options for the character editor to the base game.

On PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, Dark Arisen was released as a paid expansion for the existing Dragon's Dogma 2. The Nintendo Switch 2 version, by contrast, bundles the base game and the new content in one package.

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen was released on Oct 9, 2026. On PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the expansion is available separately for owners of the base game.

On the same day, a native version of the main game also launched for Nintendo Switch 2. This edition already includes the Dark Arisen expansion and is not separately playable DLC.

Dark Arisen released on Oct 9, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC also get the expansion as separate DLC for the existing Dragon's Dogma 2.

The Switch 2 version is a complete release of base game and expansion. Nintendo gives an estimated storage requirement of 54 GB for this version and supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes.

Technically, on Nintendo Switch 2 Capcom targets 30 frames per second as the baseline in both handheld and TV mode. Frame Generation can optionally be turned on: it calculates intermediate frames so the display should match a 60 fps image flow, according to producer Naoto Oyama. The retail version lets you switch the feature on and off. Capcom also notes that slight ghosting may occur in some situations. According to Oyama, this is the company's first project using this technique for a Switch 2 game.

The expansion builds on the open adventure and combat system of Dragon's Dogma 2. In Norgan, the Arisen travels with the mysterious Eir to an abandoned region in the far north and investigates the secret of an immortal Fallen Dragon. Forgotten relics can be found and examined to unlock new weapons and abilities.

In addition, twelve new dungeon challenges appear in the base game's world. Trials and rare equipment from earlier Arisen await there. New hairstyles and tattoos also expand the character editor for your own Arisen and main pawn.

On PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the expansion is available as separate DLC. It requires the base version of Dragon's Dogma 2. The identically named complete edition includes the base game and Dark Arisen content in one package. For Nintendo Switch 2, only the complete version with both parts is released.

New stories in Norgan and twelve additional dungeon challenges are part of the permanent expansion content. Earlier small add-on packs for the base game should be distinguished from these.

The Steam expansion requires an existing installation of Dragon's Dogma 2. For the base PC version, Windows 10/11 (64-bit), an Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 1070 or Radeon RX 5500 XT with 8 GB of graphics memory are listed as minimum.

Capcom lists a GeForce RTX 2080 or Radeon RX 6700 as recommended graphics cards. The additional areas have the same minimum requirements as the main game.

Alongside the launch of Dark Arisen on Oct 9, 2026, Dragon's Dogma 2 gets a permanent Hard Mode. Players can also use their existing save data to start a new playthrough from the beginning.

A new specialization, Orienteer, is added for pawns. Enhanced PSSR is supported on PS5 Pro; the PC version receives FSR 3 Frame Generation and updated DLSS features, among others. These additions apply to the base game and remain available beyond the expansion's launch period.

In Norgan, relics you find are examined and used as the starting point for new weapons and abilities. Capcom describes this cycle of exploration, finds and upgrades as the expansion's central new system.

A separate side quest series also unlocks the ability to change the look of weapons and armor from Norgan without losing their stats. This feature is one of the permanent expansion mechanics.