# Bundle or expansion? How to buy Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen without paying twice

Dark Arisen came out on October 9, and a lot of people are stuck on the same question: $49.99 or $29.99? The store page doesn't make it clear which one you need, and there are two prices and only one name.

The short answer

* You own Dragon's Dogma 2 on PS5, Xbox or Steam: buy the expansion for $29.99.
* You don't own it: buy the bundle for $49.99. It includes the base game.
* You're on Switch 2: the bundle is the only version.

Teaser is here: ​​ [Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen - Main Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmKyRay8hGc)

## Why the name is confusing

If “Dark Arisen” rings a bell, you're probably remembering the 2013 expanded re-release of the first Dragon's Dogma. This one is built differently. On PS5, Xbox and Steam, Dark Arisen is an add-on that does nothing without the base game. The $49.99 “Dark Arisen” product is that add-on sold together with the base game. On Switch 2, DD2 is arriving for the first time, so only the bundle exists there.

## What's inside

The main attraction is Norgan, a snowy region in the north that nobody has lived in for ages. The story there is called Forsaken Dominion: you team up with a new character, Eir, to find out what's going on with the undying Fallen Dragon.

Back on the familiar map you get twelve new dungeons called Lost Rites. The character creator gets new options too.

Title Update 4.0 arrives the same day, with Hard Mode and quality-of-life changes. Earlier title updates this year were free for everyone, so check the patch notes to see what 4.0 needs the expansion for. Capcom has also added a new batch of Official Pawns with names like Toy Leon and Knockoff Ryu.

## New to DD2? The bundle is the cheaper route

Capcom spent June getting the store ready. The expansion was announced at a Nintendo Direct that month. Within weeks, the Deluxe Edition of the base game disappeared, along with most of the paid shortcut items from launch, such as Wakestones, which bring dead characters back to life. The base game also got a permanent price cut. It launched at $69.99, and in Europe it now costs €39.99.

Here's what that does to the math, in euros. The base game plus the expansion bought separately is €69.98. The bundle is €49.99, so you save about €20. Check the base game's price in your region: as long as it's above $20, the bundle is cheaper.

If the microtransactions were why you skipped DD2 at launch, most of them are gone now.

Watch also: [Austin strongly recommends: 'Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen' (Review)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbMJGb85pBY)

## Already own DD2? Three things before you buy

* Level 40 is recommended for Norgan, though you can walk in earlier.
* To start the DLC, talk to Captain Brant at the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth at night. He gets two new dialogue options: one for the Norgan story, one for Lost Rites.
* If your save has already reached the Unmoored World, the DLC stays locked until you start New Game+.

## Is it worth it?

Two early reviews are out. Vice calls it a must-play with enough content to pass as a standalone game. RPGFan calls it the definitive Dragon's Dogma sequel, though it says the story is basic. Two reviews aren't a verdict, so player reviews on Steam will tell you more in a few weeks.

Buy it if you liked DD2 and wanted a reason to go back, or if you're new and the bundle costs less than the base game plus the expansion. If you dropped DD2 early because it didn't click, an expansion to that same game is a hard sell.

On Switch 2, check performance reports before you buy, since the bundle is the only way to get the game there.

Hooked on the game? Get it 18% off via the link: https://bit.ly/47QqOvb.

Confused about Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen's pricing? Learn whether to buy the $29.99 expansion or $49.99 bundle, how to start the DLC, and what's in Update 4.0.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen Buyer's Guide: Price & DLC

$49.99 vs. $29.99 explained: Clearing up Capcom's confusing storefront pricing, Switch 2 launch details, and how to access the new snowy region of Norgan.

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## Introduction to Streaming Platforms

Around 15 years ago, only two websites, like Crunchyroll and Funimation, had started streaming anime shows on online platforms. It was the first and foremost legal way to watch your favorite anime. But in those days, technology hadn't progressed that much; therefore, videos took forever to load, and the video quality was not pleasing enough. Overall, the initiatives made by these websites were really appreciated for that era.

## Getting Better Quality

As time progressed, the internet got faster and the demand for better quality videos arose, sparking competition among streaming platforms to be better than the rest of their competitors. They soon started learning how to make videos look clearer and sharper. Great platforms like Netflix joined the market soon, and suddenly watching anime online became much easier and more efficient for anime fans around the world.

## Watching Anywhere

When the demand for smartphones skyrocketed, things got even more interesting. The popular streaming platforms started making special apps to broadcast your favorite show on your smartphone or tablet, either from the comfort of your home or from anywhere around the world. You just need to download the apps and select your show; that's it.

## Suggesting Some Awesome Picks for You

![Photo from pikisuperstar on FreePik](img/anime-1.avif "Photo from pikisuperstar on FreePik")

P﻿hoto from *pikisuperstar* on *FreePik*\
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Have you ever noticed how streaming platforms suggest anime you might like or want to watch? That's because they use smart computers to figure out what you enjoy, like the genres you like the most while watching the show. This helps you enjoy the show without worrying about what to watch next.

## Watching New Episodes Together

Earlier, you used to wait for each episode release of your favorite anime, but do you know why some shows release in Japan first? Well, streaming platforms had found a solution for watching currently airing episodes to people all around the world at the same time without any wait. This made fans around the world really happy and also helped prevent people from sharing shows illegally without consent.

## Trying Cool Stuff

Some streaming platforms are trying something new called "virtual reality." It's like imagining yourself inside the anime's diverse universe while you're watching your favorite show (sounds amazing, right!). This still sounds somewhat dreamy, but it could be really awesome in the future if it were to become a reality.

## New Challenges and Cool Ideas

![Photo from gstudioimagen1 on FreePik](img/anime-2.jpg "Photo from gstudioimagen1 on FreePik")

P﻿hoto from *gstudioimagen1* on *FreePik*\
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Even though streaming got better, there are still some problems faced by users. Sometimes your favorite shows are underrated and not available everywhere, and some of these streaming platforms only have a few shows on their platform (sounds really bad, I know). But in the future, we are hoping to see some awesome developments like virtual reality and robots helping us pick what to watch next. So yes, that would be really awesome!

## Conclusion

In the end, I would like to say that the world is progressing really quickly, and we are hoping it will help the anime industry as well as anime streaming platforms to grow. The beginning of our journey might have sounded tricky, but now it's much better and smoother than in the past, at least, and more fun. And as we look ahead, it's exciting to think about what kinds of new things we might see in the world of anime streaming in the future, and we hope that every fan around the world will contribute their support and help to these booming streaming platforms as well.

Do you remember when watching anime online used to be a really difficult task for us because of slow loading and poor picture quality, and on top of that, you had to compromise and watch a lot of ads before you even began streaming your favorite show? Well, a lot of things have changed since then! Let's take a peek at how the technology behind anime streaming platforms has improved over the years, making anime watchers' lives easier and a lot more fun to watch their favorite shows.

The Evolution of Anime Streaming: From Bumpy Beginnings to Global Phenomenon

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