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Dragon's Dogma 2: No, the RPG's NPCs Don't die Permanently

Published: Apr. 12, 2024
Updated: Apr. 26, 2024

German English

According to Capcom, NPCs in the much-anticipated RPG Dragon's Dogma 2 will be mortal. This detail emerged from a recent interview with the Japanese developer and publisher, clarifying that death for these characters isn't final.

  • Producers Yoshiaki Hirabayashi and director Hideaki Itsuno have shared insights on the fate of Dragon's Dogma 2 NPCs.
  • While these characters can die, resurrection is possible through the use of "Wakestones," which breathe life back into deceased NPCs.
  • Moreover, an expanded affinity system is designed to motivate players to reflect on the "far-reaching consequences of their decisions," adding depth to the game's interactive narrative.

NPCs in Dragon's Dogma 2 can die but can Also be Resurrected

Dragon's Dogma 2 NPC Permadeath

The action role-playing game Dragon's Dogma 2, set to release on March 22, will feature significantly more NPCs than its predecessor. However, this number may change throughout the game, as revealed by Capcom's Hideaki Itsuno and Yoshiaki Hirabayashi in a recent interview with Automaton.

Therefore, the NPCs in the regions of Vermund and Battahl will be as mortal as the player's character, the "Arisen." Director Itsuno explained:

Our basic premise since the start of the series has been “creating a fantasy world simulator,” so NPCs dying is a normal occurrence. If there’s an NPC you care for [...], you will need to protect them as you fight, or hold them and run.

The Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi added:

However, there are Wakestones (resurrection items), so even if an NPC dies, all is not lost. It’s just that for a simulator, it’s unnatural to have beings that are completely invincible. When there is death, we take it seriously, and it affects how we act. In a world without death, I think people would be irresponsible and apathetic to their own actions.

So, in Dragon's Dogma 2, NPCs will indeed die, meaning they'll be removed from the game until a resurrection item is used to bring them back. Given Hirabayashi's emphasis on the significance of death, it's reasonable to assume that such items will be rare or come with a hefty price tag.

Hideaki Itsuno and Yoshiaki Hirabayashi
Yoshiaki Hirabayashi and Hideaki Itsuno (Source: Capcom / Itsuno)

Advanced Affinity System

With the inclusion of mortal NPCs, it makes perfect sense that Capcom has also revamped and expanded the affinity system in Dragon's Dogma. According to Itsuno and Hirabayashi, these modifications are designed to add more depth to character interactions.

For example, NPCs might disagree with the actions of the hero, leading to potential conflicts. This enhanced system aims to increase players' awareness of their actions' implications, enriching the game's narrative and interactive dimensions.

Anyway, players are not only encouraged to consider the far-reaching consequences of their decisions in Dragon's Dogma 2, but the expanded affinity system also aims to enhance the "open-world experience".

The actions of the hero are intended to significantly impact both the game's story and its world, making the latter more dynamic and responsive to those decisions. However, the specifics of how this dynamic and reactive world will manifest remain something of a mystery for now.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is scheduled for release on March 22, 2024, for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders are already available, though they do not include any special treatment, such as early access to the game.

Above: The latest gameplay scenes from Dragon's Dogma 2.

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After graduating from high school, I initially wanted to study instrumental music. However, eventually I pursued a career as a video game journalist, which I started at the prestigious Ehapa-Verlag publisher, among others. Today, I share my extensive video game expertise with Guided. I benefit from over 40 years of experience with PC and console games, as well as my work in game development for the indie studio Knights of Bytes. I understand how video games work, and I also know how to convey my knowledge in an understandable manner.
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