Dragon’s Dogma 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Capcom’s acclaimed action RPG, will not directly continue the original’s story. Instead, it will take players to a brand new “parallel world” within the Dragon’s Dogma universe, offering a fresh experience while retaining familiar elements.
This revelation comes from a recent IGN developer interview translated from Japanese, featuring Game Director Hideaki Itsuno, Art Director Daigo Ikeno, and Concept Designer & Lead Designer Keitaro Kato. They emphasized that while the franchise’s core concepts, like the cyclical Dragon and the Arisen’s role, remain intact, the new setting allows for distinct environments, cultures, and narratives.
The original Dragon’s Dogma had many parallel worlds; that’s how the story came to be. You were one Arisen in one world, but you’d borrow pawns from other Arisen in different worlds. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is essentially just another Arisen in a different world. The parallel world concept opens up new possibilities for diverse landscapes and societies.
Ikeno and Kato described drawing inspiration from classical paintings and medieval imagery, aiming to create a high-fantasy world that feels grounded and believable. They also mentioned incorporating elements like varied climates, distinct clothing styles, and unique religious practices to differentiate the two worlds further.
One intriguing aspect revealed is the presence of two major nations within the new world. Each will have its own cultural identity, potentially influenced by factors like the prevalence of Beastmen (a race hinted at in the first game but ultimately not seen). The developers stressed their focus on crafting a nuanced sense of “country” within this parallel world, ensuring players feel immersed in its distinct atmosphere.
While the core gameplay mechanics have yet to be fully detailed, the developers reaffirmed their commitment to the action RPG genre. The interview hinted at potential improvements to the Pawn system, which sees AI companions accompanying players, and the utilization of the RE Engine for enhanced visuals and world interactivity.
Like many others, I was disappointed with the original Dragon’s Dogma story. I wouldn’t mind the developer trying to do it better, and it was so generic that it wouldn’t make much difference. The parallel world setting allows for creative freedom while maintaining the core identity of the franchise. We’ll have to see how that works out.
