Kinoshita-san confirmed the Hard Mode while discussing the wide range of player levels in the Dragon’s Dogma II community. What isn’t known yet, however, is whether Hard Mode is launching alongside the Dark Arisen expansion or will be added as part of a later date. Oyama-san added, “please stay tuned for further updates regarding the details of Hard Mode and its release window.“ Dragon’s Dogma II Dark Arisen is due out on October 9, 2026. [Source – Dragon’s Dogma Q&A]