Dragon's Dogma 2 Releases to 'Mostly Negative' Reviews on Steam: Players Call Out Poor Performance and Microtransactions

The highly anticipated release of Dragon's Dogma 2 on Steam has been met with a wave of criticism, with the game currently holding 'Mostly Negative' reviews from players. The backlash primarily centers around two major issues: poor performance and the inclusion of microtransactions. With players complaining about performance issues even on high-end PCs and a paywall behind character customization, here’s everything you need to know about the Dragon’s Dogma 2 launch reception.

Stability Issues and Frame Rate Drops

Reports of stability issues, regular crashes, and inconsistent frame rates have plagued the experience for many users. Even players with high-end hardware have experienced significant stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly in densely populated areas such as major cities.

CPU-Intensive Character Modeling

Capcom, the game's developer, has acknowledged these performance issues and attributed them to the game's CPU-intensive character modeling. In Dragon's Dogma 2, a significant amount of CPU usage is allocated to each character, especially in scenarios with numerous characters on screen simultaneously. This can cause a bottleneck effect, leading to significant frame rate drops.

While Capcom has mentioned that reducing GPU load settings may help in some cases, the community is already brainstorming ideas to fix these performance issues. Some players have suggested making a list of non-essential NPCs that players can kill to reduce the strain on the CPU.

Microtransactions Stir Controversy

In addition to the performance issues, players have voiced dissatisfaction with the game's microtransactions. Dragon's Dogma 2 reportedly features over $40 worth of microtransactions available on Steam from day one.

Rift Crystals and Fast Travel

These microtransactions include the ability to purchase Rift Crystals, which are used for fast travel and character appearance changes. Critics argue that some microtransactions, such as the ability to change a character's appearance, should be included as standard features in the game, rather than being locked behind a paywall.

Player Reactions

Some players have noted that microtransactions are not essential to enjoying the game and that it is still possible to have a fulfilling experience without purchasing them. However, the overall sentiment among players seems to be disappointment and frustration with Capcom's handling of Dragon's Dogma 2.

Despite these criticisms, Dragon's Dogma 2 has received praise for its gameplay and world design. However, the performance issues and controversy surrounding its microtransactions have significantly impacted the launch of the game and the initial player experience. It remains to be seen how Capcom will address these concerns and whether future updates will improve the game's overall performance and reception.