Capcom has confirmed it is developing a hard mode for Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, answering a long-standing request from players seeking tougher end-game challenges. The mode is intended for experienced players near or at the level cap, and reinforces the expansion’s focus on making the game’s new content more demanding than the original release.

No release window has been announced, leaving uncertainty over whether hard mode will arrive with Dark Arisen, beforehand, or later. Dark Arisen will add quality-of-life changes, adjustments to Dragonsplague and fast travel, plus the new Norgan region and Forsaken Dominion storyline; it launches on 9 October 2026 for Switch 2, PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.