Crush enemies with flashy magic and ruthless finishing moves! “Warlock,” a new dark fantasy ARPG set in the D&D universe [Interview]

This year’s TGS 2026 was originally scheduled to run for five days, but unfortunately, the final day was canceled due to a typhoon. Nevertheless, numerous highly anticipated titles captivated gamers.

In this article, we’ll share a short interview with the development team following our visit to a press event held at a hotel near the TGS 2026 venue, where we watched a roughly 10-minute gameplay demo of the new ARPG *Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons*, which is set in the D&D universe!

First, we watched a 10-minute gameplay session led by the development team. This title is a third-person, single-player action-adventure set in a dark fantasy world inspired by “Dungeons & Dragons.”

In the gameplay demo, I was impressed by the high degree of freedom—not just in combat, but also in exploration and puzzle-solving—such as using magic to extinguish fire with water or summoning black tentacles to create footholds. The world also appeared quite vast and open-ended, and the graphics were stunning—it genuinely felt like a “high-caliber open-world RPG.” Additionally, the game features spells like “Eldritch Blast” that are sure to make D&D fans smile.

Now, on to the interview. Our interviewee this time is Jeff Hattem (hereinafter Mr. Hattem), the lead developer of *Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons* and Vice President of Creative at Wizards of the Coast.

——The Dungeons & Dragons franchise may not be as mainstream in Japan as it is in the West. What was the reason behind the decision to launch this title—a spin-off—in Japan right away?

Mr. Hattem: First and foremost, we believe we’ve created a game that’s incredibly fun as a pure action-adventure title. While D&D fans will likely enjoy discovering secrets and little Easter eggs that make them smile, no prior knowledge of D&D is actually necessary to play this game.

——Did the Dungeons & Dragons system influence the game’s mechanics in any way?

Mr. Hattem: Well, Dungeons & Dragons has a long history—it’s celebrating its 52nd anniversary—and it has been created through the collaboration of many artists, designers, and storytellers. We drew inspiration from that to build this game. I believe the real fun of this game lies in how you can utilize the spells and items from the D&D universe in various ways—whether in combat, exploring the world, or solving puzzles.

——You mentioned earlier that this is a game with a high degree of freedom—will there be story branching as well?

Mr. Hattem: The main story following the protagonist, Kaatori, follows a predetermined journey. However, since the game world is open and freely explorable, players can discover and experience numerous side quests and mysteries on their own that aren’t directly related to Kaatori’s journey.

——I’d like to ask about character progression. Is it possible to develop Kaatori into a character with completely different strengths or builds depending on the player’s choices?

Mr. Hattem: As you progress toward becoming a powerful warlock, you’ll acquire new spells, gear, and weapons along the way. Depending on the player’s choices, the extent to which Kaatori grows stronger will vary, allowing you to customize her to suit your own playstyle.

——What level of difficulty are you aiming for with this game?

Mr. Hatem: Depending on your playstyle and skill level, some players may find it challenging, while others may find it accessible. We’ve included multiple difficulty settings, so you can choose from a wide range to suit your preferences.

——Are there any elements where the character’s appearance changes based on equipment or items?

Mr. Hattem: Yes, we’ve prepared a wide variety of customization options that let you change Kaatori’s style based on the equipment she wears. As for weapons, there are many types of main swords, and you can also equip secondary weapons like the two-handed hammer we showed earlier, so you’ll be able to enjoy all kinds of customization.

——Many of our readers enjoy relatively intense, violent games. Could you tell us if there are any features that would appeal to those readers?

Mr. Hattem: It’s definitely a “Mature” (adult-oriented) game, so I think they’ll enjoy it. Every time you acquire and unlock a new spell, you’ll also gain a new, flashy, and spectacular “finishing move” to deliver the final blow to monsters. Since you can defeat monsters however you like, I’m sure Game*Spark readers will really enjoy it.

――Thank you very much!

“Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons” is scheduled for release in 2027 on PC (Steam/ Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.