In an exclusive interview with TalkEsport, Shagufta “XYAA” Iqbal spoke about becoming an Official Pawn in Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen. The Revenant XSpark creator is now a recruitable Archer companion for players worldwide, available at Levels 8, 20, 30 and 50 since the expansion launched on October 9, 2026.
Xyaa’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 Official Pawn goes live today, 9 October 2026, alongside the launch of Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen. The Indian gaming creator from Revenant XSpark now has an AI companion modelled on her likeness that players around the world can hire through the Rift and take on their own adventures.
Ahead of launch, I sat down with Xyaa to talk about the fake-looking email that started it all, designing her own Pawn from scratch, and why she thinks in-game collaborations matter more for Indian creators than one-off sponsored posts.
The interview was conducted in Hindi and English. Quotes have been translated and lightly edited for clarity.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Creator | Xyaa (Revenant XSpark) |
| Game | Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen |
| Vocation | Archer |
| Versions | Level 8, 20, 30 and 50 |
| Where to hire | Official Pawns menu in the Rift |
| Live from | 9 October 2026 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch 2 |
Xyaa thought the Capcom email was fake at first
Xyaa’s first reaction to the collaboration was disbelief. The email subject line mentioned Capcom and an official collab, and it looked too good to be real.
“When I saw the mail with Capcom and ‘official collab’ in the subject, I thought, this looks really fake,” she said. “Then I opened it, went through all the details, and realised it was actually real. I was completely shocked that Capcom had reached out to me themselves.”
The timing made it sweeter. Xyaa said she had played every major Capcom release this year. “I was not expecting this at all. I was just over the moon that day.”
She also knew straight away that this was different from a regular sponsorship. “They wanted me to be part of their game. That’s much bigger than a brand deal. At that moment I knew it was something special.”
Why Capcom picked Xyaa for an Official Pawn
Xyaa believes her long run of Capcom content put her on the publisher’s radar. “Maybe they saw all the streams and content I’ve made for their games over the years, especially this year. I’ve played all of this year’s Capcom games and made content on them,” she said. “Hopefully they enjoyed my content and the way my community interacts.”
How Capcom turned Xyaa into a Dragon’s Dogma 2 character
The process was simpler than you might expect. Xyaa shared a set of photos through a Drive folder, and Capcom built the character from those.
“They sent me the first draft and I felt a few changes could be made, so I told them what to change,” she said. “They sent another draft and I was happy with it. Making an exact replica in-game is really hard, so it’s close enough. After one round of changes, it was finalised.”
The bigger surprise was how much control she had over the build. “Capcom gave us full freedom to design our Pawn,” she said. “Every single skill, the armour, the headpiece: it was all my choice.”
At the time of the interview, Xyaa had only seen her Pawn in screenshots. Her honest verdict: “I feel the face could have been much better. But the nose is quite similar. I have a big nose and my character also has a big nose, so it’s a distinct feature.”
Xyaa’s Official Pawn at Levels 8, 20, 30 and 50
Players see Official Pawns in the Rift based on their own level, so Capcom created four versions of Xyaa’s Pawn. Xyaa said she designed each one to match the standard for that level. “It shouldn’t feel underwhelming or overwhelming. I wanted each one to be a balanced character.”
| Level | Look | Archer rank | Key weapon skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Dark red velvet hooded cape | Rank 2 | Barrage Shot, Dire Arrow, Sweep Shot |
| 20 | Wolf-head fur hood, dark leathers | Rank 6 | Manifold Shot, Torrent Shot, Drenching Shot |
| 30 | Winged helmet, feathered armour | Max | Tempest Shot, Deluging Shot, Erupting Shot |
| 50 | Golden horned helmet, fur and scale armour | Max | Myriad Shot, Corkscrew Arrow, Tempest Shot |
Details from Capcom’s preview screenshots.
Her favourite is Level 30. “I really like that look, the armour and everything,” she said. Level 50 comes a close second because it wears new armour and gear from the Dark Arisen expansion.
I remembered Xyaa using a similar wolf-head look during her PUBG streams, so I asked if that was the inspiration. It wasn’t. “I just think the wolf head looks really cool. I wanted to keep her look consistent across levels, so I went with that.”
Why Xyaa’s Pawn is an Archer at every level
I’ve known Xyaa since her Counter-Strike days, so I asked whether the long-range role was her idea or Capcom’s. It was hers.
“When I played Dragon’s Dogma 2, my main character was an Archer too,” she said. “I wanted this Pawn to represent me and my playstyle. I didn’t want to build something just because people would like hiring it. I wanted her to be like me.”
Her Pawn also carries the Kindhearted inclination and Guardian specialization. Asked to describe the character in one word, Xyaa picked “kind”.
“I’ll be part of this game forever”
When I asked how it feels knowing strangers will hire her Pawn, Xyaa called it surreal. Official Pawns stay in the game, so new players could meet her years from now.
“I’m going to be part of this game forever. It’s not going anywhere,” she said. “Five years from now, some random player might pick up the game, see Xyaa in the Rift and decide to go with me. Maybe she cracks a funny joke, or the player is about to die and she lands one arrow and kills the dragon. That player will remember that moment. It feels amazing that I’ll be in the game forever.”
And if someone feeds her to a dragon on purpose? “I can’t control that,” she laughed. “Do whatever you want. I just want to be remembered. I don’t care how.”
Two Indian creators are in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
Xyaa is one of two Indian creators with an Official Pawn in this wave. BeastBoyShub, who plays a Mage, is also on Capcom’s Official Pawn list.
“If you haven’t played, now is the perfect time, especially if you’re from India,” Xyaa said. “You don’t just have me, you have BeastBoyShub as well. But you don’t have to pick it up just because we’re in the game. It’s a really nice, immersive RPG and the combat is amazing.”
For returning players, she said the hype is already high. “People who have played it always tell me Dragon’s Dogma is such a great game. They’re super hyped for Dark Arisen.”
On launch day, expect streams from Xyaa. She said she is planning more, but kept the details under wraps.
What being inside a Capcom game means to Xyaa
“I never thought in my life that I’d be inside a game, especially a Capcom game,” Xyaa said. “Capcom is such a huge studio with so many great games. I’m a huge fan of Resident Evil, including the one that launched this year. To be in one of their games: no words.”
She kept the reveal secret for a long time before the announcement. Her community’s reaction made the wait worth it. “People were saying, finally we can play with you in a game, as a character that is you.”
The project also changed how she sees game development. Capcom sent her a sheet of weapons, skills and armour to pick from. “It took me so much time to design just one character and its abilities,” she said. “I can’t imagine how much time and brain power goes into a whole game, with every NPC, main character and side character.”
Xyaa on in-game integrations and the India opportunity
Xyaa thinks global publishers are paying attention to Indian creators because of how audiences here follow games. “In India, I feel people follow creators more than games,” she said.
She drew a clear line between this collab and a typical deal. “With a one-off deal, the audience notices it, interacts, and then forgets. When a publisher puts a creator in the game, that stays there forever. It’s more than a one-time sponsored thing.”
She also believes it introduces the game to people who would never have found it. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people didn’t know about this game. Because of us, a lot of people know about it now.”
On whether console and PC games can grow in mobile-first India, Xyaa pointed to her own audience. When she first streamed Dragon’s Dogma, few of her viewers played story games. Today, she said, her audience has become a story-game audience and has lost interest in FPS titles. “A lot of new gamers start on mobile, then shift to PC, usually with FPS games. Then they discover story games. It’s growing a lot and I’m pretty sure it’ll keep growing.”
Xyaa’s advice for women creators in Indian gaming
Xyaa’s message to women creators was simple: keep showing up.
“Don’t listen to the trolls,” she said. “When I started, there were a lot of trolls and a lot of people who doubted my abilities. I love gaming and I have that passion, and that’s why I’m here and getting this huge opportunity. Patience pays off. Don’t give up. If you have the passion, keep going and good things will come.”
And if the Xyaa who was just starting out saw this? “She wouldn’t believe it. She’d be super shocked.”
Rapid fire with Xyaa
| Question | Xyaa’s answer |
|---|---|
| Favourite vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2 | Archer |
| Mage or Fighter | Mage |
| Her Pawn in one word | Kind |
| Level 50 Pawn vs Xyaa in a real fight | Level 50 Pawn: “I made her very strong” |
| Capcom character to cosplay next | Claire (she has already cosplayed Ada Wong) |
| Next game she’d love to be in | Resident Evil |
“Capcom, are you listening?” I asked. Xyaa’s reply: “I hope they are. My email is open.”
How to hire Xyaa’s Official Pawn in Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Launch Dragon’s Dogma 2 or Dark Arisen and go to the Rift.
- Open the Official Pawns menu.
- Find Xyaa (Archer). You will see the version that matches your level.
- Hire her and take her on your quest.
Capcom says Official Pawns up to Level 10 cost no Rift Crystals to hire. Their equipment can’t be changed after you hire them.
Pawn IDs from the preview: Level 8: CGEVJJM79PSN, Level 20: X321GZM5E3MO, Level 30: 0P7QIXVKZ31L, Level 50: NJ3596GMPUE5.
Xyaa’s parting message for players: “Please hire me and take me with you on your journey. I made her balanced, not so strong that she kills everything while you do nothing. And you need that good-looking Archer in your team.”
FAQ
Who is Xyaa? Xyaa is an Indian gaming creator and streamer with Revenant XSpark. She is known for PC and story-game content, including Capcom titles.
When is Xyaa’s Official Pawn available in Dragon’s Dogma 2? From 9 October 2026, the launch day of Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen.
What vocation is Xyaa’s Pawn? An Archer at all four levels: 8, 20, 30 and 50.
Is it free to hire Xyaa’s Pawn? Capcom says Official Pawns up to Level 10 cost no Rift Crystals. Higher-level versions may cost Rift Crystals.
Which other Indian creator has an Official Pawn in Dragon’s Dogma 2? BeastBoyShub, who plays a Mage.
Did Xyaa design her own Pawn? Yes. Capcom built her likeness from photos, and Xyaa chose every skill, armour piece and headpiece herself.
