Dragon's Dogma 2 has received a free update that introduces an item allowing for infinite fast travel, a change that producer Naoto Oyama and director Kenta Kinoshita see as an expansion of player choice. This update arrives ahead of the game's Dark Arisen expansion.
Previously, fast travel in Dragon's Dogma 2 required the use of Ferrystones, a limited item, to reach Portcrystals. These Portcrystals could only be found in specific cities, though players could place a small number of their own. The game also featured microtransactions for Portcrystals, which have since been removed. This system necessitated strategic planning for movement throughout the world.
Kenta Kinoshita acknowledged the game's original design fostered a "hardcore nature" that encouraged players to develop strategies for navigating the world and making deliberate choices about how and when to travel. He noted that while this deliberate friction is a celebrated aspect of the series, the development team also wanted to offer players more options.
"I feel that we're not forcing anyone to fast travel anywhere; we're just giving those who wish to take that option an alternative - even if they don't use it every time," Kinoshita stated in an interview. He elaborated that players sometimes face repetitive journeys retracing their steps, and real-world time constraints can make lengthy play sessions challenging. The new Eternal Ferrystone provides an option for players who need to reach their destination more directly.
This decision to add more convenient fast travel options may contrast with the views of the base game's director, Hideaki Itsuno, who previously suggested that travel is only an issue in a game if the travel itself is unengaging, advocating for making the journey itself fun.