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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen begins in Vernworth, not from a separate title screen. After installing the paid expansion and updating the base game, visit Captain Brant at The Stardrop Inn at night. His new dialogue offers two entry points: “About the new Arisen…” starts Chilling Tidings and the Norgan story, while “About the uncovered ruins…” starts Lost Rites, a set of 12 endgame dungeon challenges.
The expansion recommends level 40 but does not require it. The important exception is story state: once your save has reached the Unmoored World, the DLC cannot be started in that playthrough. You must use New Game+, carrying over your level, equipment and items while resetting quest progress and quest items.
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Dragon's Dogma 2 - PS5 | $37.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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What you need before trying to unlock the DLC
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen launched on October 9, 2026. It is paid expansion content for the existing game, and the PlayStation Store listing states that the base game is required. On PS5, check the expansion’s listing and install the latest game patch before troubleshooting access: official PlayStation Store listing.
- An installed copy of Dragon’s Dogma 2.
- The Dark Arisen expansion installed on the same account and platform.
- The latest available game update.
- A save that has not already entered the Unmoored World, unless you are prepared to move that character into New Game+.
You do not need to be level 40 to trigger the content. Level 40 is the guide’s recommended level for the expansion and Norgan, while the individual Lost Rites dungeons can differ substantially in difficulty. Treat the recommendation as preparation advice rather than a hidden access check.
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- A Grand Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma 2 begins in a subterranean jail, where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories.
- Single-Player Cooperation – Up to three mysterious otherworldly beings, known as Pawns, accompany the Arisen throughout their journey.
- Made with RE ENGINE – Capcom’s advanced RE ENGINE produces vividly detailed, high fidelity graphics combined with immersive physics and complex and reactive character AI to create a setting where decisions, and their consequences, come to life.
- Pre-order Bonus: Superior Weapons Quartet
Start the DLC at The Stardrop Inn
- Travel to Vernworth.
- Go to The Stardrop Inn.
- Visit at nighttime. Captain Brant is the NPC who presents the expansion’s new dialogue.
- Speak with Captain Brant and look for the two additional conversation choices.
- Select the line that matches the content you want to enter.
PC Gamer’s launch guide identifies the exact wording of both choices: “How to start the Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen expansion”. If the choices are not visible, confirm that the expansion is installed, return at night and verify that the game is patched before changing your save.
Choose the correct dialogue option
| Captain Brant’s dialogue | Quest started | Content opened | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| “About the new Arisen…” | Chilling Tidings | Norgan and its Forsaken Dominion story, featuring Eir and the Fallen Dragon | Players who want a new-region narrative and the expansion’s main story |
| “About the uncovered ruins…” | Lost Rites | 12 new dungeon challenges placed in the existing game world | Players looking for endgame combat and dungeon progression |
These are separate quest routes, not two descriptions of one mission. The official listing and Capcom’s PlayStation Blog announcement describe Norgan’s story and the Lost Rites dungeons as distinct parts of the expansion. Capcom’s Joseph Bustos specifically describes Lost Rites as “12 new unique dungeons called Lost Rites” in the June 25, 2026 PlayStation.Blog overview.
Route 1: Chilling Tidings and Norgan
What this route contains
Selecting “About the new Arisen…” starts Chilling Tidings. That quest sends you toward Norgan, the new region introduced by the expansion. Its wider narrative is called Forsaken Dominion and centers on Eir and the Fallen Dragon.
Norgan is the appropriate first choice if you want to experience the expansion as a story campaign. The route adds a new setting rather than keeping every objective inside the original map, so it is also the route most affected by your character’s survivability, travel preparation and ability to handle unfamiliar encounters.
What to prepare
- Bring a party setup that can recover from unexpected encounters; the expansion’s recommended level is 40, but access itself is available earlier.
- Keep healing and travel supplies available before leaving Vernworth.
- Make a manual save before speaking to Brant if you want a clean return point for testing either entry option.
The level recommendation comes from the launch guide, not from an official mandatory gate. A lower-level character can reach the content, but entering early may make the opening portion less forgiving.
Route 2: Lost Rites and the 12 dungeon challenges
What this route contains
Selecting “About the uncovered ruins…” starts Lost Rites. The route consists of 12 dungeon challenges distributed through the existing game world. It is therefore not a trip to a second region like Norgan; you will be using familiar world geography to reach a new set of endgame activities.
How the difficulty works
There is no single difficulty statement that applies equally to all 12 challenges. PC Gamer notes that the individual Lost Rites dungeons vary in difficulty. Level 40 is a useful target for the expansion overall, but your equipment, vocation setup and party composition matter when deciding whether to tackle a particular dungeon immediately.
Rank #2
- A Grand Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma 2 begins in a subterranean jail, where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories. With their heart taken by the Dragon, the Arisen is set on a path to slay that symbol of the world’s destruction as it soars through the sky on massive wings, breathing flames that scorch everything in its path. With the Arisen’s future veiled in mystery, what challenges and triumphs await on the path to their destiny?
- Single-Player Cooperation – Up to three mysterious otherworldly beings, known as Pawns, accompany the Arisen throughout their journey. Pawns create the feeling of a cooperative gameplay experience by offering unique characteristics, skills, and knowledge gained from their experiences with other Arisen.
- Made with RE ENGINE – Capcom’s advanced RE ENGINE produces vividly detailed, high fidelity graphics combined with immersive physics and complex and reactive character AI to create a setting where decisions, and their consequences, come to life.
If you prefer to test your character in shorter, challenge-focused content before committing to a new-region story, this is the more direct entry point. If you are seeking the narrative involving Eir and the Fallen Dragon, choose Chilling Tidings instead.
Level and timing: when should you begin?
| Situation | What the evidence establishes | Practical decision |
|---|---|---|
| Below level 40 | Access is possible earlier; level 40 is recommended, not required. | You can start, but expect less margin for error and consider preparing your equipment first. |
| About level 40 | The launch guide recommends this level for the expansion and Norgan. | This is the clearest general-purpose point to begin the story route. |
| Focused on Lost Rites | The 12 dungeons do not share one stated difficulty; they vary individually. | Choose challenges according to your current build rather than treating level 40 as a guarantee. |
| Already in the Unmoored World | The DLC cannot begin in that save state. | Use New Game+ and read the save-transfer consequences before confirming. |
Nothing in the available launch information says that reaching level 40 automatically unlocks Brant’s dialogue. The trigger is the installed expansion, the correct nighttime conversation in Vernworth and a save state that has not crossed into the Unmoored World.
If you have reached the Unmoored World
Reaching the Unmoored World changes the answer. According to PC Gamer’s guide, you cannot begin Dark Arisen from that save until New Game+. There is no separate nighttime conversation that bypasses this restriction in the current instructions.
What New Game+ changes
The guide describes a “Change save slot” option for creating a new playthrough from your existing save. The transition carries over your level, equipment and items, but resets quest progress and quest items. That is a consequential story-state change, not a harmless reload.
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- Carried over: your character’s level, equipment and items.
- Reset: quest progress and quest items.
- Result: a new playthrough in which you can return to Vernworth and approach Captain Brant’s DLC dialogue.
Safe decision process
- Back up or preserve your current save according to your platform’s normal save-management options.
- Read the “Change save slot” confirmation screen in full.
- Confirm that losing current quest progress and quest items is acceptable.
- Start the New Game+ transition only after you understand which story milestones will need to be replayed.
- Once the new playthrough is active, reach Vernworth, wait until night and speak with Captain Brant at The Stardrop Inn.
Do not use New Game+ solely because you have not found Brant. First check the inn at night, confirm the expansion installation and apply the latest patch. New Game+ is the required route specifically for the Unmoored World save state.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Relics, equipment and cosmetic additions
The expansion is more than a pair of quest markers. The official listing identifies new hairstyles and tattoos, while the PlayStation Blog explains that relics recovered in Norgan can be appraised to earn stronger weapons and armor. These additions are tied to the expansion’s content, but they do not replace the Brant conversation as the starting trigger.
For a story-first playthrough, enter Norgan through Chilling Tidings and expect relic appraisal to become part of that region’s progression. For a challenge-first playthrough, the Lost Rites route provides the 12 dungeon activities in the existing world; the available descriptions do not state that every cosmetic or relic feature is exclusive to one dialogue option.
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- The main protagonist James Sunderland searches for clues in the namesake town, after receiving a mysterious letter from his wife Mary… who has long been dead
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- Made with state-of-the-art technology to play on modern entertainment systems in 4K
Troubleshooting Captain Brant’s missing options
Brant is not at the inn
- Return during nighttime rather than daytime.
- Confirm that you are at The Stardrop Inn in Vernworth, not another lodging location.
- Check that the expansion is installed on the same platform and account as the base game.
Brant appears, but the DLC dialogue is absent
- Install the latest game patch.
- Verify the expansion’s installation in your platform’s downloadable-content or game-management screen.
- Check whether the save has entered the Unmoored World. If it has, the documented solution is New Game+.
- Reload a save from before entering the Unmoored World if one exists and you prefer not to reset quest progress.
You selected the wrong option
The two choices start different lines, so note the wording before confirming: “new Arisen” is Chilling Tidings and Norgan; “uncovered ruins” is Lost Rites and its dungeon challenges. If you have not confirmed a choice yet, leave the conversation and make a manual save first.
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There is no requirement to wait for level 40, but the recommendation exists for a reason. Strengthen your equipment and party before pushing farther, especially in Norgan. For Lost Rites, assess each dungeon independently because the challenges vary in difficulty.
Availability and format notes
The PlayStation Store page identifies the PS5 expansion and states that the base game is required. PlayStation Blog describes it as a standalone expansion for existing owners and as part of a bundle for new players. The cited information does not establish Amazon availability or confirm a physical edition, so do not assume either format from the title alone.
Quick unlock checklist
- Own Dragon’s Dogma 2 and the Dark Arisen expansion.
- Update the game to the latest patch.
- Use a save that has not reached the Unmoored World, or plan the documented New Game+ transition.
- Go to The Stardrop Inn in Vernworth at night.
- Speak with Captain Brant.
- Choose “About the new Arisen…” for Chilling Tidings and Norgan, or “About the uncovered ruins…” for Lost Rites.
- Use level 40 as a preparation target, not an access requirement, and judge Lost Rites dungeons individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start the DLC before level 40?
Yes. Level 40 is the recommended level for the expansion and Norgan, but the launch guide says access is possible earlier.
Which Brant option starts the Norgan story?
Choose “About the new Arisen…”. It starts Chilling Tidings, which leads into Norgan’s Forsaken Dominion story.
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Choose “About the uncovered ruins…”. It starts Lost Rites, the route containing 12 dungeon challenges.
Can I access Dark Arisen after entering the Unmoored World?
Not in that save state. The documented route is New Game+, which carries over level, equipment and items but resets quest progress and quest items.
Quick Recap
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