Dragon’s Dogma 2 Patch Nerfs Its Most Controversial Feature

Capcom has released a new Title Update for Dragon’s Dogma 2, heavily nerfing the controversial dragonsplague feature, among other changes. Dragon’s Dogma 2 was first released in late March, and Capcom has already released several updates to fix bugs and tweak features in the game.

Dragonsplague in Dragon’s Dogma 2 has proven to be an extremely controversial inclusion. When the game first launched, many were shocked at how punishing the dragonsplague feature was. It serves as a hidden plague on Pawns that players need to look out for, which, if unchecked, can turn a Pawn into a dragon. After this transformation occurs, the afflicted Pawn will wreak devastation on the player’s current location, killing most of the nearby NPCs. While this is an interesting idea in theory, it was all too easy to go unnoticed, and the consequences can be dire. Story-essential NPCs can be killed as a result of this, and it can even completely soft-lock a save file, leading to many player complaints.

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Details of the latest patch were posted to the official Dragon’s Dogma 2 website. Headlining the changes are the nerfs to dragonsplague. Its infection frequency in Pawns has been reduced, and the signs of those infected are now more noticeable. For example the glowing eyes of infected Pawns are now much more noticeable now, making spotting dragonsplague symptoms in Dragon’s Dogma 2 far easier than before. However, the patch touches on more than just dragonsplague. A problem that jailed players while fighting monsters in town has also been fixed, as well as a ton of adjustments to Pawns’ behavior and dialogue.

The dragonsplague nerfs are certain to come as welcome news to the game’s community. Dragon’s Dogma 2 modders had already attempted to fix dragonsplague themselves, but ultimately, this is only available for the PC version of the game. With this list of fixes coming to all platforms, players will finally be able to enjoy dragonsplague as an interesting game mechanic to be navigated, rather than a save-ruining disaster.

Although Capcom continues to frequently update Dragon’s Dogma 2 with adjustments and bug fixes, it remains to be seen what the studio has planned for the game in terms of new content. Just after the game’s initial launch in March, Capcom teased Dragon’s Dogma 2 DLC in a survey, indicating that plans are underway for something in the future. What exactly that entails remains to be seen.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dragonsplague Nerf Title Update Patch Notes

[PlayStation®5 / Xbox Series X|S / Steam]

Reducing the infection frequency of dragonsplague and adjusting the signs of Pawns infected with dragonsplague to be more noticeable.

• For example, when infected, glowing eyes will be more noticeable.

Adding the option to zoom in on the faces of the Arisen and Pawns in the status screen, shops, etc.

Fixing some issues and implementing adjustments related to the mini map.

• Treasure chests that have already been acquired won’t be displayed on the mini map.

Adjustments to Pawns’ behavior and dialogue.

• Fixing issues where occasionally the player couldn’t high five Pawns.
• Fixing issues where Pawns wouldn’t start guiding after offering to guide.
• Making Pawns less likely to fall off cliffs.
• Reducing the frequency of some Pawn dialogue lines.
• Improving Pawn lines to better match circumstances.
• Fixing some issues where Pawns stop speaking outside of combat.
• Fixing some issues where the Main Pawn speaks support Pawn’s dialogue.
• Making Pawns more likely to aid the Arisen if the Arisen commands them to help while being held by enemies.
• Reducing the frequency of Pawns offering to be hired by the player while in the field.

Fixing issues where sometimes escort quests are considered failed when accessing Character Edit or other specific situations.

Fixing issues where the player could be jailed when fighting monsters in town.

Fixing some crashes and freezes in specific circumstances.

Miscellaneous bug fixes.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

The long-awaited sequel to 2012’s Action RPG, Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 follows the Arisen, a hero whose heart is stolen by a powerful and massive dragon. Featuring a world 4x the size of its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma 2 emphasizes customization and player control through its character creator, vocations system, and AI-controlled Pawns. 

Released

March 22, 2024

Genre(s)

Action RPG

Metascore

88