Which Dark Arisen purchase do you need?
| Your situation | What to buy | US price | Play when |
|---|---|---|---|
| You already own Dragon’s Dogma 2 | Dark Arisen Expansion (DLC) | $29.99 | Now (16.6 GB extra on Xbox) |
| New to Dragon’s Dogma 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox) | Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen bundle | $49.99 | Now |
| Playing on Nintendo Switch 2 | Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (only version sold) | $49.99 | Now (49.6 GB download) |
| Only want the base game for now | Dragon’s Dogma 2 | $39.99 | Now, but the bundle is only $10 more |
Dark Arisen is out: launch-week facts
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen reviews
| Where | Score | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic — Switch 2 | 88 | 8 critic reviews |
| Metacritic — PC | 85 | 16 critic reviews |
| Metacritic — PS5 | 83 (“Generally Favorable”) | 25 critic reviews: 22 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative |
| Metacritic — Xbox Series X|S | tbd | 2 critic reviews, too few for a score |
| Steam — Dark Arisen Expansion | 86% positive (“Very Positive”) | 564 user reviews |
| Steam — Dragon’s Dogma 2 base game | 63% positive (“Mixed”) | 118,408 user reviews since March 2024 |
| PlayStation Store — expansion | 4.8 / 5 | 151 ratings |
“The gap between those two Steam numbers is the story of this launch. The base game still sits at “Mixed” from its rocky March 2024 release, while the people who have bought and reviewed the expansion so far are at 86% positive.”
— Rayyan Omar, From our checks of the Steam review API, 11 October 2026
The critic reviews went live on 7 October, two days before launch, and most were played on PS5. The common thread in the excerpts is that Norgan adds a sizeable new region and a loot loop the base game lacked, and that the free updates sand off rough edges. One reviewer felt some of the friction that made Dragon’s Dogma distinctive is gone. The Switch 2 version has the highest Metacritic score so far, but from only eight reviews, so treat it as early.
Title Update 4.0: what every owner got for free
- Hard Mode. Capcom’s Steam post says it “can be applied to an existing or new save”.
- Start over with your save: carry your current save data back to the beginning of the game.
- Orienteer, a new pawn specialization.
- Forgotten riftstones now give 90 rift crystals instead of 30, and you are paid the difference for ones you already touched.
- Thermal properties on some armor, plus pawn, UI and quest bug fixes.
- Steam only: FSR 3 Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution 4.5, DLSS multi-frame generation (now usable with DLSS upscaling off), and DualSense adaptive triggers, vibration and motion.
- PS5 Pro only: official support for Enhanced PSSR.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen release date and time
Capcom announced the 9 October date during the June Nintendo Direct, but the store listings are where the exact time appeared. When we opened the Xbox bundle page on 29 September, it said the expansion “will be available on Thursday, October 8th, 2026 at 5:00 PM (PDT) / Friday, October 9th, 2026 at 1:00 AM (BST)”. That is one fixed moment worldwide: 00:00 UTC. Steam agreed. Its store API still lists the expansion under “Oct 8, 2026”, the date it went live in the Americas. So in the Americas the expansion arrived on the evening of Thursday 8 October, and everywhere east of the UK it was already Friday.
| Region | Local unlock time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Pacific (PDT) | 5:00 PM | Thursday 8 October |
| US Eastern (EDT) | 8:00 PM | Thursday 8 October |
| Brazil (BRT) | 9:00 PM | Thursday 8 October |
| UK (BST) | 1:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 2:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Saudi Arabia (AST) | 3:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| UAE (GST) | 4:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| India (IST) | 5:30 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Philippines (PHT) | 8:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Japan (JST) | 9:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 11:00 AM | Friday 9 October |
| Auckland (NZDT) | 1:00 PM | Friday 9 October |
The PS Store’s 04:00 UTC listing
The US PlayStation Store expansion page gave, and on 11 October still gives, a release date of 9 October at 04:00 UTC, which is midnight US Eastern and four hours after the Xbox and Steam time. PlayStation listings often show a local-midnight placeholder, and Capcom never published a PlayStation-specific time. We were not watching a PS5 at the moment of release, so we can’t tell you which of the two times it actually unlocked at. Either way, it is out on PS5 now.
Dark Arisen download size
| Platform | What you download | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | Dark Arisen Expansion only | 16.6 GB |
| Xbox Series X|S | Dragon’s Dogma 2 base game | 75.6 GB |
| Xbox Series X|S | Bundle (base game + expansion + 2 small add-ons) | About 92.4 GB |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (complete) | 49.6 GB |
There was never a separate preload for the expansion: bundle buyers got the base game straight away, and 9 October only added the expansion on top. Existing owners need the expansion plus Title Update 4.0. On Switch 2 the final size settled at 49.6 GB, the same figure we read on 3 October and below the 54 GB estimate the listing showed earlier, so clear that much space on a microSD Express card or the internal storage first.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen price: expansion vs bundle
| Product | Steam | Xbox | PS Store | Nintendo (Switch 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Arisen Expansion (needs base game) | $29.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 | — |
| Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (bundle) | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 |
| Dragon’s Dogma 2 (base game only) | $39.99 | $39.99 | $39.99 | — |
The prices on that Steam page explain the whole decision. The base game alone is $39.99 and the expansion alone is $29.99, which adds up to $69.98. The bundle is $49.99, so a new player saves $19.99 by buying it. Put another way, the bundle charges just $10 more than the base game and throws in the expansion, the Camping Kit and the sound pack. If you have not bought Dragon’s Dogma 2 yet, buying the base game on its own makes no sense.
Do you need Dragon’s Dogma 2 to play Dark Arisen?
“This product cannot be used without Dragon’s Dogma 2.”
— Capcom, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Expansion, Steam store page, read 29 September 2026
Yes. Despite the name, this is not a standalone re-release like the original Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen in 2013. The $29.99 product is DLC for an existing copy, and the $49.99 product is the same DLC bundled with the base game. The Xbox listing warns that “items in this set can also be purchased separately. Please be aware of duplicate purchases”, and Steam carries a similar duplicate-purchase note. So if you already own Dragon’s Dogma 2, buy the $29.99 expansion, not the bundle. Nothing we read on Steam, Xbox or the PS Store mentions an owner discount on the bundle.
The Norgan pre-order bonus
What is in the Dark Arisen expansion
- Forsaken Dominion: a new story in Norgan, a long-abandoned snowy region in the north. You join Eir, who is hunting the undying Fallen Dragon
- Relic Expedition: dig up and appraise forgotten relics to unlock new weapons and skills. Capcom’s launch post says a Norgan side-quest chain unlocks an appearance-change (transmog) feature for weapons and armor obtained in Norgan, keeping their stats
- Lost Rites: 12 new challenge dungeons spread across Vermund and Battahl on the main map, holding rare gear once used by past Arisen
- Character Creator additions: new hairstyles and tattoos for your Arisen and Pawns
- A returning boss: the developers confirmed the Evil Eye comes back
- New Official Pawns made by streamers and creators, added through the Rift
When can you reach Norgan and the Lost Rites?
| Content | Opens | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Rites dungeons | Early in the story | Around 20 |
| Norgan (Forsaken Dominion) | Shortly after you reach Vernworth | Around 40 |
| Hard Mode | Any save, new or existing (Capcom) | Late game; the developers said at TGS a save switched to Hard Mode cannot be switched back |
This matters if you are buying the bundle as a newcomer. Norgan opens early, but at level 40 it is meant for players well into the main story, so expect to spend your first weekend in the base game. The Lost Rites dungeons, at around level 20, are the first expansion content most newcomers will reach. Capcom’s patch notes don’t say whether Hard Mode can be turned off again, and the developers told GosuGamers it can’t, so back up your save or switch a second save slot instead. Since the September update you have three.
Dark Arisen FAQs
Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen out?
Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen good?
How much is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen?
How big is the Dark Arisen download?
Is Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen a standalone game?
Do you need the expansion to get Hard Mode?
Can I play Dark Arisen on Steam Deck?
Dragon’s Dogma 2 PC requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-8500 / AMD Ryzen 5 3500 | Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | GeForce GTX 1660 / Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB VRAM) | GeForce RTX 2070 Super / Radeon RX 6600 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Target | 1080p (upscaled), 45–60 fps on Prioritize Performance | 1080p (upscaled), 60 fps on Prioritize Performance |
Two things stood out when we read the Steam page. First, both tiers list Windows 11, not Windows 10. Second, ray tracing needs at least an RTX 2080 Ti or RX 6800 on top of the recommended spec. Capcom also recommends an SSD. The game has a reputation for CPU-heavy cities, so the frame-rate figures above are for the “Prioritize Performance” preset with upscaling, not native 1080p. Title Update 4.0 helps here: FSR 3 Frame Generation and DLSS multi-frame generation are new options on Steam.
The Switch 2 version
This is the first time Dragon’s Dogma 2 has appeared on a Nintendo console, which is why there is no $29.99 expansion there: nobody owned the base game on Switch 2. The nintendo.com listing sells the combined package at $49.99, the same price as everywhere else. The final download is 49.6 GB, bigger than most Switch 2 games, so storage is the thing to plan for. Capcom’s Title Update 4.0 notes list PS5, Xbox and Steam only; the Switch 2 version launched with the expansion already built in. It also has the highest Metacritic score of the four versions, 88, though from only eight reviews.
Paying with a Steam, Xbox or Nintendo gift card
If you want another dark-fantasy action RPG, we stock Dragonkin: The Banished as a Steam key, along with its Blood Scales Edition. It is an isometric action RPG rather than an open-world one, so it is a different kind of game. If you buy Dark Arisen on Steam and it disappoints, Steam’s refund rules cover DLC too: within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours played.
Our verdict by player type
Existing owners — $29.99 expansion
A new region, 12 dungeons and a gear system for the price of a mid-size DLC, and early buyers on Steam are 86% positive. Buy the expansion, never the bundle.
- New story region plus 12 challenge dungeons
- Relic gear with its own transmog
- Hard Mode and restart come free with Title Update 4.0
- Norgan is tuned for level 40+
- No owner discount on the bundle, so read the product name carefully
New players — $49.99 bundle
Only $10 more than the base game alone, and the game is in its best state since launch. The easiest recommendation in this guide.
- $19.99 cheaper than buying both parts
- Metacritic 83–88 across platforms
- Includes Camping Kit and sound pack
- About 92 GB on Xbox
- PC needs Windows 11 and a GTX 1660-class GPU; Unsupported on Steam Deck
Switch 2 — $49.99
Same price and content as elsewhere, and the best-reviewed version so far. Plan for the 49.6 GB download.
- First time on a Nintendo console
- Complete package in one purchase
- Metacritic 88 from early reviews
- 49.6 GB of storage
- Only eight critic reviews so far
Rayyan covers console and PC gaming wallets for Virtwave, with deep specialism in PlayStation Network, Xbox, Razer Gold and Steam. He has been writing about digital gaming commerce since 2020.
Sources & how we checked this
- Capcom — Dragon’s Dogma 2 Title Updates: the launch-day update (Hard Mode, restart, Orienteer, rift crystals, Steam graphics options, PS5 Pro PSSR) and the September update.
- Steam news — “Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen out now!” (9 October 2026): Title Update 4.0, Hard Mode on existing saves, the Norgan transmog quest chain and Official Pawns.
- Metacritic — Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen: per-platform Metascores and review counts, read 11 October.
- Xbox store — Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen: the 5:00 PM PDT / 1:00 AM BST unlock, bundle contents and price; sizes and post-launch prices from the Microsoft catalogue entries of its bundled items.
- Steam — Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Expansion: $29.99 price, base-game requirement and the review count via Steam’s review API.
- Steam — Dragon’s Dogma 2: $39.99 base game, $49.99 bundle, PC requirements and Steam Deck status.
- PlayStation Store — Dark Arisen Expansion and the bundle: PS5 prices, the 4.8 rating and the 04:00 UTC listing.
- nintendo.com — Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen for Switch 2: $49.99 and the 49.6 GB download.
- RPG Site — content revealed in more detail: the reveal of the expansion and the free updates.
- GosuGamers — TGS 2026 developer interview: the Evil Eye, Hard Mode and recommended levels.
Method: we opened each store page from Poland with US pricing, took the screenshots in this post on the dates in their captions, read Steam’s review API and store API, the Microsoft display catalogue and nintendo.com’s page data for the exact figures, and converted local times from 00:00 UTC using the daylight-saving rules in force on 9 October 2026. We searched our own catalogue to confirm we don’t stock the game, and opened each linked gift card and game page to confirm it was live. We did not play the expansion for this post, so the quality verdicts lean on the review scores above. Our standards are set out in our editorial policy.
Also out this month: the Kingdom Hearts Collection, released the day before Dark Arisen. On Switch 2, the next big one is the Ocarina of Time remake on 5 November, and our Switch 2 storage calculator shows whether it fits next to Dark Arisen’s 49.6 GB. If you are planning a big download on another console, our game download time calculator estimates how long the 92 GB Xbox bundle takes on your connection.
