The introduction of the Dragonsplague in Dragon's Dogma 2 was an idea that might have made its debut in the initial installment, however, the technological constraints of the PlayStation 3 necessitated its postponement to the game’s follow-up. Dragon's Dogma 2’s director, Hideaki Itsuno has revealed that this significantly impactful gameplay element was under consideration from the inception of the franchise in 2012.
In a discussion with Automaton Media, Itsuno highlighted that complex mechanisms such as the Dragonsplague and the inclusion of two expansive realms for exploration were beyond the capabilities of the hardware from the seventh console generation. “With Dragon’s Dogma 2, we managed to incorporate the realms of Vermund and Battahl along with the Dragonsplague, an affliction that targets Pawns," Itsuno remarked. "These concepts, alongside AI behaviors which were previously downscaled owing to the PS3's limitations, are rendered with greater fidelity in the sequel.”
Thanks to the technological advancements in contemporary gaming hardware, Capcom has been able to enhance Dragon's Dogma 2 with a rich array of foes and larger mythical creatures. Itsuno stated, “In the original Dragon’s Dogma, accommodating two sizeable boss monsters concurrently strained our capacity to include additional minor monsters. Conversely, in the sequel, handling three large bosses simultaneously poses no issue, thereby enriching the player's experience as they encounter new bosses whilst evading others.”
For those unfamiliar, Dragonsplague in Dragon's Dogma 2 presents a challenge for players to vigilantly monitor their group of Pawns, as the disease can afflict them, evident from the reddish-purple coloration in their eyes. Should an infected Pawn be neglected, they could become hostile and disobey commands. If not transferred to another Pawn in time, the initially infected Pawn might indeed eradicate an entire town, including key NPCs crucial for advancing the plot and quests.
This gameplay mechanism is something I find particularly engaging, adding a layer of risk to routine explorations. While the game does provide ample warning signals, ignoring them could lead to severe repercussions, particularly since Wakestones, necessary for reviving fallen NPCs, are in scarce supply.