By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 30 September 2026
In brief: Dragon's Dogma 2 is a game that relies mainly on the CPU: Capcom itself warns that smoothness can drop when the processor is heavily loaded, especially in cities. The recommended setup calls for a Core i7-10700 or Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2070 Super or RX 6600 XT for 1080p at 60 frames per second with upscaling. To get the most out of it, go for a Ryzen 7 X3D. The Dark Arisen expansion launches on the 9 October 2026.
Dragon's Dogma 2 in 2026: Dark Arisen expansion is coming
Released on 22 March 2024, Dragon's Dogma 2 is Capcom’s open-world action RPG: you create your character and your “Pawn”, an AI-controlled companion, and you fight gigantic monsters by literally climbing all over them.
On 10 June 2026, Capcom announced Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, a paid expansion that adds a new story. It launches on 9 October 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series, and on Nintendo Switch 2 in an edition that bundles the game and the expansion. According to Capcom, the series has surpassed 14 million copies sold as of 31 March 2026.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen expansion releases on 9 October 2026.
Here’s the official trailer for Dark Arisen:
Capcom, main trailer for Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, 2026.
The official PC setup
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8500 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500 | Intel Core i7-10700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| Memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Graphics card | GeForce GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB | GeForce RTX 2070 Super or Radeon RX 6600 XT |
| Target resolution | 1080p with upscaling, 45 to 60 fps | 1080p with upscaling, 60 fps |
| System | Windows 11 64-bit, SSD recommended | Windows 11 64-bit, SSD recommended |
Source: Dragon's Dogma 2 Steam page, consulted on 30 September 2026. An RTX 2080 Ti or an RX 6800 is required for ray tracing.
Why the CPU matters so much
Our builder’s take: Dragon's Dogma 2 is one of the games where the CPU makes the biggest difference. In cities, with many simulated characters at the same time, it’s the CPU that limits smoothness, not the graphics card. Capcom makes the same point in its official setup.
The best answer is AMD X3D processors and their large cache: they dominate the in-game performance rankings. The table below, taken from Tom’s Hardware tests, shows the gap between today’s processors. To go further, read our comparison Intel or AMD for a gaming PC.
In cities, it’s the CPU that determines smoothness.
| Processor | In-game performance score |
|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | 97 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 85.6 |
| Intel Core i7-14700K | 76.4 |
| Intel Core i5-14600K | 72.8 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | 67.3 |
| Intel Core i5-14400 | 58 |
Source: Tom’s Hardware, ranking of processors for the game, updated 26 August 2026 (score in % of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D).
What PC for Dragon's Dogma 2 and Dark Arisen?
| Target resolution | Recommended processor | Recommended graphics card |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | Ryzen 5 7500X3D or a recent Core i5 | RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB or RX 9060 XT 16 GB |
| 1440p | Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D | RTX 5070 or RX 9070 XT |
| 4K | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 |
Our PCs for Dragon's Dogma 2
Rift PC: RX 9060 XT 16 GB
Available with a Ryzen 5 7500X3D and an RX 9060 XT 16 GB: the 3D cache for Dragon's Dogma 2 cities at 1080p.
Cheetoh PC: Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 5070
Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 5070: the ideal duo for Dragon's Dogma 2 in 1440p.
Rainbow V2 PC: RTX 5070 Ti
RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D: 1440p at high refresh rates and 4K with DLSS.
FAQ: Dragon's Dogma 2 on PC
What configuration for Dragon's Dogma 2?
The recommended setup calls for a Core i7-10700 or a Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2070 Super or an RX 6600 XT, for 1080p at 60 frames per second with upscaling.
Why does Dragon's Dogma 2 stutter in cities?
Because the processor is heavily burdened there by the many characters. Capcom points this out in its official setup. An X3D processor significantly limits these drops.
When does Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen release?
On 9 October 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch 2.
Which processor for Dragon's Dogma 2?
A Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D for the best result, a Ryzen 5 7500X3D or a recent Core i5 for 1080p.
Does Dragon's Dogma 2 require an SSD?
An SSD is recommended by Capcom for good loading times.
Sources
- Steam, Dragon's Dogma 2 (system requirements)
- Capcom, announces Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (June 2026)
- Tom's Hardware, ranking of game processors (August 2026)
