How do I turn on the new hard mode in Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen for an existing save?

If you already have a Dragon’s Dogma 2 save, the good news is that update 4.0 does not require starting over just to use the new hard mode.
The confirmed answer
Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 update 4.0 adds an optional hard mode that can be turned on for existing saves.
That means current players should be able to keep their save and enable the harder setting instead of creating a new character or restarting the game.
What is not confirmed here
The available information confirms that existing saves can use hard mode, but it does not give the exact menu path.
So the practical next step is:
- Update Dragon’s Dogma 2 to version 4.0.
- Open your existing save.
- Check the game’s settings, difficulty, or mode-selection menus for the new hard mode option.
- If you do not see it, check Capcom’s latest official update notes or in-game notices.
What else came with update 4.0
The same update launched alongside the Dark Arisen expansion. It also adds new RPG content and new character creator options across platforms.
PC players also get new graphics features, while PS5 Pro users receive enhanced PSSR 2 support.
Before changing your save
Because the exact activation steps are not included in the available source, double-check the latest official announcement or in-game prompt before changing your active save settings.
What changed in Dragon’s Dogma 2 update 4.0 with the Dark Arisen expansion?

Dragon’s Dogma 2 update 4.0 is tied to the Dark Arisen expansion and brings both gameplay additions and platform-specific graphics updates.
Main gameplay changes
The confirmed Dragon’s Dogma 2 update 4.0 changes include:
- New RPG content through the Dark Arisen expansion
- New character creator options across platforms
- An optional hard mode
- Support for enabling hard mode on existing saves
For current players, the existing-save support is one of the most practical changes. The available information says hard mode can be turned on without requiring a fresh save.
Graphics and platform updates
PC players receive support for two graphics features:
| Platform | Confirmed update |
|---|---|
| PC | FSR 3 Frame Generation |
| PC | Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation |
| PS5 Pro | Enhanced PSSR 2 |
Capcom did not mention Intel XeSS upscaling or frame generation in the available update information.
What to check before playing
The context confirms the features included in update 4.0, but not the detailed in-game menu steps or performance differences between platforms. If you are checking for a specific graphics option, it is worth reviewing the latest official patch notes after installing the update.
How do the PC graphics upgrades compare between FSR 3 Frame Generation and Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation?

Dragon’s Dogma 2 update 4.0 gives PC players two named frame-generation options: FSR 3 Frame Generation and Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation.
The practical comparison
The confirmed difference is the technology being supported.
| PC feature | What update 4.0 confirms |
|---|---|
| FSR 3 Frame Generation | Added for PC players |
| Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation | Added for PC players |
The available context does not include benchmark results, supported GPU lists, frame-rate numbers, or visual-quality comparisons. So it is not possible to say from this information which one performs better in Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Which one matters for your setup?
Use the option that matches the hardware and driver support available on your PC. The update confirms support for both named technologies, but it does not provide compatibility details.
If your system supports one but not the other, that will likely decide which setting is relevant to you.
What is not included
Capcom did not mention Intel XeSS upscaling or frame generation in the available update details.
For performance-sensitive settings, check the game’s current graphics menu and any official update notes after installing version 4.0, since driver and game-support details can change.
Sources / Learn more
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