Dragon's Dogma 2 Producer Confirms Series Is in Good Hands Post-Itsuno
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Capcom insists the Dragon's Dogma franchise is in safe hands following Hideaki Itsuno's departure, with veteran developer Kenta Kinoshita stepping up to direct the upcoming Dark Arisen expansion.
When legendary director Hideaki Itsuno left Capcom after thirty years, many players wondered about the future of Dragon's Dogma. Itsuno spent decades championing the franchise, making his departure feel like the end of an era for the sprawling open-world RPG. However, the team behind the newly announced Dark Arisen expansion insists that the series' identity remains secure. According to producer Naoto Oyama, Capcom deliberately structures its teams so that major franchises do not rely on a single visionary to survive and thrive.
Stepping into the director's chair for the expansion is Kenta Kinoshita, a franchise veteran who worked as a main planner on the original game and Dragon's Dogma 2, while also directing the original Dark Arisen and the Japan-only Dragon's Dogma Online. Kinoshita noted that his long history with the franchise gives him the precise background needed to preserve the unique mechanical quirks and distinct fantasy tone that players love. Rather than chasing generic open-world trends, the development team is doubling down on the specific systems that make the IP stand out in a crowded market.
For players invested in the community and the ongoing life of the game, this continuity is a reassuring sign. Major single-player franchises often stumble when their creative figureheads move on, but Capcom's internal talent pipeline appears well-equipped to carry the torch. As the studio prepares to launch the Dark Arisen expansion, fans can expect the same uncompromising creature combat and emergent systemic chaos that defined the 2024 sequel. You can read the original interview over at Eurogamer.
Tags: Dragons Dogma 2, Capcom, RPG, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer