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Fallout‘s Studio Design Director is apparently a huge fan of the newDragon’s Dogma, and he’s not been shying away from making it known. Emil Pagliarulo is no stranger to the world of gaming. With his extensive experience in game design, his insights into the industry are always worth noting.
Lately, he’s been raving about Capcom’s latest RPG release, and one particular design decision has caught his attention.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Prioritizes Gameplay over Immersion, and It Works
In a recent tweet, Pagliarulo expressed how much he liked a sneaky design trick that’s used by the developers ofDragon’s Dogma 2.
🧵(1/2) I’m almost done talking about Dragons Dogma 2. Almost.
I love how the devs employ a classic sneaky design trick. Only occasionally, because you can only get away with it occasionally…
— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh)June 15, 2025
He specifically spoke about the use of text boxes for NPC dialogue in a game where all other dialogue is voiced.
They use text boxes for NPC dialogue… in a game where the all the other dialogue is voiced. When faced with the decision, “Do I not add new content because I can’t get the voice actor back?” the better decision is sometimes, “Constraints be damned – offer more gameplay!”
The replies to the tweet were filled with praise for the game.
Not Dragonsplague This Time, but 1 Dragon’s Dogma 2 Feature Is Proof Capcom Committed to Its Vision, and Fans Are Loving It
A user agreed with Pagliarulo’s thoughts, stating that it’s fun when developers play around with these constraints and go above and beyond to provide more gameplay. It adds more to the player experience, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
I couldn’t agree more. Or flat out change the voice actor for an established character anyway, and then suddenly reveal them as an imposter who killed the real person, and have the voice change be one of the in-game observations that the player is made aware of. More gameplay!😂
— SenjutsuSage (@SenninSage)June 21, 2025
One reply spoke about how the game was the only title to capture them the wayThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimdid back in the day, which is huge praise, considering how beloved the classic is.
DD2 has me by the hands the way Skyrim did when I first played it way back in 2012. It’s hard to believe I feel like I’m a 15 year old again, but here it is!
— Vera Burd @ Looking for Work (@VeraBurd97)June 20, 2025
![[REDACTED] Review (PS5) – Innovation Caught the Escape Pod Faster Than We Did](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/05095712/redacted-review-768x432.jpg)
Judging by the reaction online after all of the discourse regarding the game’s infamous microtransactions, FPS issues, and single save slot died out, the newDragon’s Dogmaseems to be a hit among RPG fans.
If you were hesitating to try the game because of the issues mentioned above,Capcom released a patchto change things up and fix part of these problems. So, now’s your chance to dive in!
The Controversy Surrounding Fallout 76’s Design Director
While it’s nice seeing a professional in the industry praise another studio’s game so openly, the stories floating around Pagliarulo aren’t as wholesome. Pagliarulo worked onFallout 76as a design director and lead writer. After its troubled launch, he received much of the blame on social media.
Adding to the fire, Kotaku released a comprehensive report on the game’s development where developers revealed mismanagement from top executives, with claims that Pagliarulo showed little interest in the project.
Starfield Review: The Not So Final Frontier (PC)
Pagliarulo held similar roles forStarfield. He assured players that lessons had been learned fromFallout 76‘s launch, promising a smoother experience.
However,the game’s reception was mixed, and Pagliarulo faced criticism for dismissing negative feedback from players who wanted features common in modern RPGs. He claimed players were “disconnected from the realities of game developing.”
Do you think the criticism surrounding Pagliarulo is fair? What do you think about his opinion ofDragon’s Dogma 2‘s design choice? Let us know in the comments below!
Vibha Hegde
Critic/Gaming Writer
Articles Published :594
Vibha is an avid gamer that has been writing about video games for several years. When they’re not complaining about the lack of a Bloodborne sequel or brushing up on the Yokoverse lore, Vibha is busy watching 3-hour video essays on horror games they’re too scared to play themselves.
