Tokyo Game Show 2023 was a veritable treasure trove of information and footage on Dragon's Dogma 2, the long-awaited action RPG sequel in development at CAPCOM.

　　Speaking to Japanese website Gamer during TGS 2023, Game Director Hideaki Itsuno and Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi highlighted their goal to create a 'fantasy world simulation game' with a lot more emphasis on physics. Players will have to be careful when moving, as positioning will be of key importance for combat.

　　Hirabayashi: Another area we focused on, reflecting the survey results, was to make the world of the work more realistic. This includes not only the visual aspects but also the parts that you can experience through gameplay.

　　Itsuno: By applying tools such as physical calculations, even a single slope has meaning in gameplay. In battle, higher ground has an advantage. However, climbing to high places costs more than navigating on flat ground. When throwing something, it hurts more if you throw it from top to bottom. Running down a slope from top to bottom increases speed.

　　These are all things that are incorporated to simulate a fantasy world. I hope you will think I am trying to create a "fantasy world life simulation game".

　　Itsuno: That's right. Also, as with all slopes, it's easy to lose your balance. Taking advantage of this, attacking the extremities, such as the feet, can be effective in making the opponent fall. We incorporate various elements so that the laws we experience while living in this world can also be used in the fantasy world of Dragon's Dogma 2.

　　Hirabayashi: It's a commitment to help you immerse yourself in that world.

　　Itsuno: Decisions such as "Should I choose the shortest mountain path, or should I take a detour and continue on the plains'' now include consideration of realistic rules that were often ignored in games.

　　Hirabayashi: The sense of movement is different when traveling on flat ground and up a slope. On a slope, attacking from above is more advantageous than attacking from below. If there is no difference in that, you won't be able to make people feel like "I'm going to do my best to create an advantageous situation.''

　　Announced for the 10th anniversary of the original game's release, Dragon's Dogma 2 is being developed with the RE Engine for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. There's no release date yet, but the stream of information and publically playable demo at TGS hint at a relatively close launch, perhaps in the first half of 2024.

　　In other CAPCOM news, president and COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto said game prices must be increased to cover rising costs.