Hideaki Itsuno, director of the hotly anticipated action RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2, recently put to rest rumors that the game would be capped at 30 frames per second (fps) on PlayStation 5. In a tweet, Itsuno revealed the open-world fantasy sequel will launch with an uncapped frame rate when it releases next month.
This news comes as a relief to fans dreading the prospect of Dragon’s Dogma 2 chugging along at a paltry 30fps. However, while uncapped frames point toward improved performance, they don’t guarantee the stable 60fps visual smoothness players may expect from a modern PS5 title.
Uncapped frame rates enable fluctuation based on demanding scenes. Consequently, shifting frame pacing can produce a jarring, disjointed effect in motion. At its worst, unstable frame rates famously contribute to nausea or headaches. Itsuno’s phrasing implies Dragon’s Dogma 2 will not lock at a consistent 60fps on Sony’s vaunted next-gen hardware.
A best case scenario may resemble Capcom’s Monster Hunter World, which hovered around 40-45fps on PS4 when targeting higher performance. While less fluid than 60fps, it proved moderately more responsive than a capped 30fps.
For a sprawling open world like Dragon’s Dogma 2 filled with magic and mythical beasts, maintaining even a partial step above 30fps would mark an achievement. Yet as flagship PlayStation titles like God of War Ragnarök have proven, holding 60fps solidifies an exceptional, premium feel expected of big budget sequels. Only hands-on impressions will determine whether Dragon’s Dogma 2 reaches such rarefied air.
In other words, prepare for better than a choppy 30fps journey through picturesque rolling hills and dark caverns filled with all manner of ghosts and goblins. But will Dragon’s Dogma 2 provide the seamless next-gen experience fans feel the series deserves? We’ll find out for sure when one of 2023’s most anticipated RPGs launches next month solely on PlayStation 5.
