Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen DLC guide: release date, price, platforms, Norgan, Lost Rites, and what's new.
Dark Arisen DLC Guide: Release Date, Price & New Content
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen launched on October 9, 2026, adding the snowy Norgan region, 12 Lost Rites dungeon trials, and a relic-hunting endgame loop. The standalone expansion is reported at $29.99 on PC, PS5, and Xbox, with a $49.99 base-game bundle as the only way to play on Switch 2. If you just want the short version: existing players buy the DLC, newcomers and Switch 2 players buy the bundle, and everyone starts it by talking to Brant in Vernworth.
Dark Arisen at a Glance
Everything a buyer or fence-sitter needs fits in one table. Prices below are the multi-outlet reported figures as of the Dark Arisen launch on October 9, 2026, since the Steam price endpoint was rate-limited during the launch window.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (expansion) |
| Release date | October 9, 2026 (Steam shows Oct 8 in US time zones) |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Standalone price | Reported $29.99 (PC / PS5 / Xbox) |
| Bundle price | Reported $49.99 (base game + expansion) |
| Switch 2 format | Bundle only, no standalone DLC |
| New region | Norgan, the Forsaken Dominion, far north of Vermund |
| New dungeons | 12 Lost Rites trials on the base-game map |
| New vocations | None; new skills and higher skill tiers instead |
| Entry point | Talk to Brant at the tavern after reaching Vernworth |
| Base game required | Yes, except through the bundle |
Official source: Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen official site
Release Date and Platforms
Dark Arisen went live worldwide on October 9, 2026, alongside Title Update 4.0, which every player receives whether or not they buy the expansion. The update carries Hard Mode and a batch of Pawn and bug fixes. For the full patch breakdown, see the Title Update 4.0 patch notes.
The platform split matters more than usual here because Switch 2 is handled differently from every other platform:
| Platform | How to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Standalone DLC or base + DLC bundle | DLC app ID 2593290; bundle page on Steam |
| PS5 | Standalone DLC or bundle | Standard expansion purchase |
| Xbox Series X|S | Standalone DLC or bundle | Standard expansion purchase |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Bundle only (base game + expansion) | No standalone DLC; first release of the game on a Nintendo platform |
Capcom's official wording for Switch 2 is explicit: the Switch 2 version contains both the base game and the expansion together. Performance and verdict details live on the Switch 2 review and performance page.
Some storefronts display October 8 for the release. That is the same global launch rendered in US time zones. This guide, like the rest of dragondogma2.wiki, uses October 9 throughout.
Price and Editions: Which One to Buy
Three outlets independently report the same two price points, so treat these as reliable but still launch-window figures rather than numbers pulled from the Steam API directly.
| Edition | Reported price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Arisen standalone DLC | $29.99 | Players who already own the base game on PC, PS5, or Xbox |
| Base game + Dark Arisen bundle | $49.99 | New players on any platform |
| Switch 2 bundle | $49.99 reported | The only Switch 2 option; includes everything |
The buying logic is simple. Own the base game on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox and just want the new content? Buy the standalone DLC. New to the game entirely, or playing on Switch 2? Buy the bundle. There is no deluxe tier above these two. The price and editions comparison tracks store links per platform, and the worth-it verdict breaks the value question down by player type.
Direct store pages:
- Dark Arisen expansion on Steam
- Base game + expansion bundle on Steam
- Official Dark Arisen site with all platform store links
Pre-order and early-adopter buyers also received the Norgan Fashion Set cosmetic outfit, delivered to the in-game inn storage box. Details are on the pre-order bonus page.
Norgan and the Forsaken Dominion
Norgan, formally the Forsaken Dominion, is the expansion's new region: a snowy ruined land far north of the Vermund kingdom. Once a prosperous part of Vermund, abandoned years ago, it stirs again as the Fallen Dragon, a second heartless husk of a dragon, returns to life. A mysterious woman named Eir is hunting it, and a Norgandian Settlement with its expedition survey team hands out side quests.
| Norgan element | What is confirmed |
|---|---|
| Location | Far north of Vermund; reached in the DLC's second stage via Brant |
| Story hook | The Fallen Dragon's revival and Eir's hunt for it |
| Hub | Norgandian Settlement, with NPC side quests |
| Enemies | Variants of existing monsters plus entirely new creatures |
The director describes the region as cold-first, dark-later, and the producer ties the reused Dark Arisen name to the story, the relic loop, and veteran expectations. The full breakdown is on the Norgan region guide.
Lost Rites: 12 Dungeon Trials on the Base Map
The expansion's other headline is 12 dungeon challenges called the Lost Rites. Note the twist: these sit on the base-game map across Vermund and Battahl, not inside Norgan. They are framed as trials of the Pathfinder, rewarding rare gear and treasure once carried by past Arisens.
| Lost Rites fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Count | 12 unique dungeon challenges |
| Location | Base-game map, spread across Vermund and Battahl |
| Framing | Trials of the Pathfinder |
| Rewards | Rare equipment and treasure of past Arisens |
| Unlock | First DLC quest from Brant, then doors open across the map |
| Suggested level | Around 20 |
Capcom has not published a list of the 12 individual dungeon names, so any site showing named locations this early is aggregating community exploration, not official data. For the community-built list as it fills in, see the Lost Rites dungeon locations guide.
The suggested levels tell the intended order: trials at 20, Norgan at 40. Trial rewards feed directly into Norgan preparation, so clearing dungeons first is the natural gearing path. The level requirement guide compares both routes in detail.
Relic Expeditions, Transmog, Hard Mode, and New Skills
Beyond the two big destinations, the expansion adds four systems worth knowing before you buy.
| System | What it does | Key limit |
|---|---|---|
| Relic appraisal | Loot Relics in Norgan, appraise them at the settlement for weapons, armor, and skills with random stats | Relic names, drop tables, and costs are still unverified |
| Transmog | A Norgan side-quest chain unlocks appearance-only changes for gear | Only Norgan-obtained gear qualifies; base-game gear unconfirmed |
| Hard Mode | Title Update 4.0 addition for new or existing saves | Difficulty multipliers unconfirmed |
| New skills and 6 slots | No new vocations; new skills plus higher tiers, and weapon slots up from 4 to 6 | Individual new skill names still being documented |
Two clarifications that save money and confusion. First, there are no new vocations, so any headline implying a new class is wrong. Second, there is no official cross-save support, so each platform's saves stay on that platform; the cross-save answer page states the evidence plainly. For each system in depth: the relic appraisal guide, the transmog unlock guide, the Hard Mode guide, the new skills list, and the skill slots guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the base game to play Dark Arisen? Yes on PC, PS5, and Xbox, where the expansion is DLC. The alternative is the base-game-plus-DLC bundle. On Switch 2 the bundle is the only purchase and includes everything.
How much does Dark Arisen cost? The standalone expansion is reported at $29.99 and the bundle at $49.99, consistently across multiple outlets as of the October 9, 2026 launch.
When did Dark Arisen release? October 9, 2026, worldwide, alongside Title Update 4.0. US storefronts may show October 8 because of time zone conversion.
What is the fastest way into the new content? Reach Vernworth, visit Captain Brant in the Stardrop Inn at night, and pick the new-Arisen dialogue option. Lost Rites open first at around level 20; Norgan follows at around level 40.
Are there new vocations? No. The expansion adds new skills and higher tiers of existing skills, plus six weapon skill slots.
Is there cross-save between platforms? No official source describes cross-save, so treat saves as locked to their platform.
Related
More Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Guides
Best weapons and armor in Dark Arisen: top Relic gear, appraisal priority and progression loadouts.
How to unlock transmog in Dark Arisen: Reaching the Far Shore quest, Hal location and Relic gear limits.
All new vocation skills in Dark Arisen: what each of the 10 vocations gets and where to learn them.
How to change appearance: character creator, mid-game changes, pawn looks, new hairstyles and tattoos.
Beginner tips for Dark Arisen: what to do first, prep checklist, vocations, ferrystone and money guide.
Does Dragon's Dogma 2 have cross save? Cross-progression status across PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch 2.
Dragonsplague explained: symptoms, combat buffs, Dragonsbaulk Draught cure and keep-or-cure strategy.
Eternal Ferrystone guide: how to get it from Brant, how to use fast travel with Portcrystals.