Dragon’s Dogma 2 faces high CPU usage issues due to NPCs; devs work on options

Summary

• Players and critics with an early copy of the hotly anticipated Dragon’s Dogma 2 had a few things to say about the frame rate.
• The high CPU usage due to NPCs is causing frame rate drops, as identified by IGN.
• The developers have acknowledged the issue and are working on an alternative to mitigate the problem.

Just a day ahead of the release of the fabled sequel to 2012’s Dragon’s Dogma, players are excited for the release of Dragon’s Dogma 2, despite a few issues left for the developers to iron out.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 reportedly has frame rate issues on PC, and the developers, Capcom, are aware of this. They are working hard behind the scenes to iron out the issue ahead of launch.

Responding to a query from IGN, the developers announced that they attribute considerable CPU usage to each character and the dynamic calculation of the impact of their physical presence in various environments.

Thus, CPU usage can be high when multiple NPCs appear together in a scene. High CPU usage generally translates to a frame-rate drop.

The developers know this issue and have said that reducing GPU load in such a situation might result in limited output. Capcom reassured the players that they are currently working on ways to improve their performance in the future.

To mitigate this issue, some titles like the recently released Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth give the players a choice between Performance – maintaining a constant frame rate or Graphics – with increased graphical power for stunning visuals.

However, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has one mode across all consoles. Hideaki Itsuno, the director of Dragon’s Dogma 2, has mentioned that they aim to hit the sweet spot of 30 fps or slightly higher with Dragon’s Dogma 2.

The frame rate issues are not minor, either. They are pretty noticeable, and Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of those titles where looking at the sky or down at the ground improves the frame rate. A similar issue was noticed sometimes in Assassin’s Creed Mirage as well.

IGN reports that the issues are not “dealbreakers, and they never take anything away from the exciting moments of exploration and discovery.” Despite this, developers Capcom need to figure out an alternative for the frame rate drops since it is not sustainable but still could be a deal-breaker for many nitpicky gamers.

About Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a 2024 action role-playing video game developed and published by Capcom. The sequel to Dragon’s Dogma (2012), the game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on March 22, 2024. Upon release, it received positive reviews from critics. Gameplay Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an action role-playing game played from a third-person perspective.

The player takes on the role of a character called the “Arisen”, a hero marked by a dragon whom they must defeat. The player explores the world they live in, taking on quests, and fighting monsters, while being caught up in a geopolitical conflict between two kingdoms. To assist in this, the Arisen relies on allies called “Pawns”, non-playable characters who join the player’s party.

These characters are AI-controlled, but function like player-controlled avatars, able to assist in fights, provide information on enemies, and give guidance to active quests. Players can each create and customize their avatar and their own Pawn character with different genders, appearances, and race. In addition, players can recruit two additional Pawns that have been created by other players.