Dragon’s Dogma 2 Gets Major Improvements as New Expansion and Updates Transform the Game

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is finally reaching the state players wanted at launch, with improved performance, expanded dungeon content, enhanced Pawn abilities, and a challenging new expansion giving players more reasons to return.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is becoming a much better experience following a series of updates and the release of a substantial expansion. The most recent changes address several long-standing issues and add new content, providing players who stuck around to defend the game after its troubled launch with more reasons to return.

The improvements aren’t just more activities, though, with some performance improvements and gameplay tweaks helping to make the adventure feel more complete. After a full weekend of playing the game again, the most recent changes have made the experience seem a lot better than before.

These situations used to cause noticeable frame rate drops that could cut into your combat and make exploring less fun.

Now the game runs a lot more smoothly, and players can walk around busy areas and participate in battles without the same performance issues. This is particularly important since major expansions and updates can sometimes make existing performance problems worse when devs add new systems and content.

A recent example would be the next-gen update for The Witcher 3, which, although improved, created performance issues as well. Some players have reported worse performance following that update, despite the game already having a history of technical issues. Dragon’s Dogma 2, thankfully, appears to have avoided that situation with its latest changes.

Returning to the game also provides a better reason to start a new character and work toward the expansion. Reaching the required level of 40 means spending considerable time progressing through the main campaign, but the journey now feels more rewarding because there are additional activities to complete along the way.

Instead of just doing the main story and side quests, players can hunt monsters, clear out enemy encampments, and explore new dungeons. These additions help to make the leveling process feel less repetitive and give you more ways to develop your character before you enter the expansion’s challenging new region.

Players can also hold the command button to send pawns out to search for items in the surrounding area, making it easier to find useful resources while traveling through the world. These changes have real-world advantages, but there’s also a tiny addition that makes the companions more fun: players can now hold the command to me and high-five them whenever they want.

While the inclusion of a high-five feature does seem like a small addition compared to performance improvements or new dungeons, at least it gives the companions another way to interact with the player. Pawns already play a massive role in Dragon’s Dogma 2, so adding more ways to interact with them is only going to help make the journey feel more personal. 

Another big addition is the Lost Ritual Dungeons, which add to the base game's activities and provide players more reasons to explore.

These dungeons are unlocked at level 20 and involve larger cave systems where players must defeat red-eyed enemies, solve puzzles, or complete other tasks to progress. The diversity they add breaks up the normal routine of following quests and fighting enemies along set paths. These dungeons provide another avenue for experience and getting ready for the expansion once you hit the level requirements.

The dungeons also enhance the experience of leveling up a new character to 40. Previously, players would waste a lot of time driving from campaign missions to side quests, but the new content adds more objectives to make leveling more fun. One moment you’re hunting monsters, then clearing an encampment, and then entering a dungeon to face a different kind of challenge. 

But Lost Ritual Dungeons have their limits. Some limit the characters that can come in; for example, players can only bring their main pawn. Others require every member of the party to have very lightweight equipment, meaning you may need to adjust your setup before entering. 

Certain dungeons also require the fixed Godsbane sword from the main campaign before players can enter or complete them, creating an additional obstacle for anyone who is keen to explore every dungeon as soon as possible. This means you may need to spend more time progressing through the main story before you can access every dungeon and take advantage of the new content.

It can be frustrating when people hit level 20 long before finishing the main campaign or getting the sword they need. This means you may find a dungeon that appears to be accessible based on your level, but you cannot actually get into it, as you have not progressed far enough in the story.

However, there are many other things to do while working on those requirements, so the restrictions don’t leave you wanting. I usually just play the main campaign until I get to around level 30 or 35 and get the Godsbane sword. Then I go back and clear out all the other dungeons and work my way up to level 40.

Hitting level 40 is particularly important before venturing into the expansion’s northern area, called Noran in the source material.

The new area is introduced as a real challenge, with powerful enemies, environmental mechanics, difficult quests, and other obstacles that can make even experienced players sweat. This expansion is meant to challenge players who have already spent a lot of time learning the game’s combat and exploration systems.

Players returning to Dragon’s Dogma 2 can also benefit from changing a few settings before beginning their adventure. If you increase the distance between the character and the camera, you will be able to see a better view of the environment around you, which is helpful when traveling and fighting.

Another useful option is to change the layout of the controller, especially for players who want shielding and skills assigned to the trigger buttons rather than the bumper buttons on the front face of the controller. They’re small changes, but depending on your preferences, they can make the controls feel a little more comfortable.

Despite the remaining restrictions, the combination of performance improvements, new dungeon activities, enhanced Pawn abilities, and the expansion has given players more reasons to revisit Dragon’s Dogma 2. The experience of starting a fresh character and working through the campaign now includes more opportunities to explore, fight, and develop your build.

The expansion is still demanding in its preparation, and players shouldn’t expect to just walk into its new region without some serious challenges. If you take the time to finish the campaign, get gear, and reach level 40 before heading north, it can make a big difference. The game will also run more smoothly, and there are other activities to do during the leveling process, so this preparation feels less like a chore.