Capcom’s open-world RPG Dragon’s Dogma is set to see its first full expansion DLC sometime next year. Announced earlier at the Tokyo Game Show, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is going to be a “major expansion” to the existing game and will see a simultaneous Xbox 360 and PS3 release sometime in 2013. Not much else is known about the DLC right now, but Capcom assures that details will come as the release date gets closer.

Until then, fans of Dragon’s Dogma have some other interesting additions to look forward to: a Hard mode difficulty setting and a Speedrun challenge. Both will be made available before the year’s end, though no word yet if they will be included in free patches or part of a paid-for downloadable pack. In Hard mode, players will face much more difficult challenges with the promise of greater rewards and experience as you progress. In Speedrun, haste is encouraged, and the faster you complete the game, the greater the glory.

Dragon’s Dogma released earlier this year and was met with mostly positive reception. It went on to sell over 1 million units globally, prompting Capcom to announce plans for a sequel (this DLC notwithstanding).