Capcom's tentative release schedule for the next four years has been leaked following Capcom being targeted in a cyber attack earlier in November. The company's potential plans to revive a handful of unique series are now known to the public, including the unexpected return of Dragon's Dogma. In a Resetera post detailing the content of the leak, as interpreted by user Passing Assassin, the schedule outlines plans for a Dragon's Dogma sequel release sometime in mid-2022.
Coming at a time when Japanese studios were experimenting with western-inspired role-playing games, Dragon's Dogma - later re-released as Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen - shares a release year with its influential contemporary Dark Souls, and mirrors a great deal of the same aesthetics and gameplay experience. The leak suggesting that a Dragon's Dogma 2 is in the works would capitalize on the momentum built by re-releases of the original title, the most recent being a port for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.
Enthusiasm for a return to the game's expansive world of Gransys has been stoked since Netflix's Dragon's Dogma anime adaptation released in September. Despite the game's direct premise, assuming the role of a customizable hero thrust into a quest to slay a dragon and rescue the realm, it resonates well in a sprawling game world that is perhaps most often criticized for its lack of accessible fast-travel.
As Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen was not without its quirks, the notion of Dragon's Dogma 2's development alone is enough to get some fans excited, as the maturation of game design elements the original title helped pioneer seeing a return may prove to be worth the wait.
Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding the unofficial announcements via Capcom's leaks have come at the cost of several Capcom employee's personal information. The legal issues surrounding the situation will likely mean Capcom will avoid affirming its leaked projects anytime soon, including new releases from flagship series such as Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter.
Several companies have utilized nostalgia in order to bring comfort to their audiences amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While the return of some familiar franchises are exciting to fans, the means by which this information should be taken with a grain of salt, and could serve to delay the development of these returning series. Minding the ethics of sharing leaked information, true Capcom fans would do well to contain their excitement and stay patient during a challenging time for one of the video game industry's giants.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is out now for PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Source: Resetera