Crimson Desert: Release date, gameplay, story, trailer, platforms & more

In a world of broken kings and rising mercenaries, Crimson Desert is Pearl Abyss’s ambitious open-world action-adventure offering.

It’s no longer just the “next thing from the Black Desert folks”; it’s becoming its own beast. Below, you’ll find what’s confirmed, what’s speculated, and everything in between.

Crimson Desert release date

Crimson Desert will release on March 19, 2026. This was confirmed during the September 24 State of Play.

It will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, MAC, and PC. This follows a similar pattern to Black Desert Online, which is also available for both PC and console. 

There’s no word on whether cross-platform play or cross-progression will be supported at launch, but given this feature is a highly requested feature, we could see it added to the game at some point during Crimson Desert’s lifecycle. 

Crimson Desert story

The official Crimson Desert website invites players to step into the continent of Pywel, a continent embroiled in war for unprecedented power. Endless challenges and threats arise as the portents of calamity throughout the land begin to unravel.

Amidst the shadows of adversity and the depths of despair, the Greymanes continue on their epic journey to fulfill their mission. Join Kliff and his comrades as they engage in fierce battles to save Pywel from an impending catastrophe.

Explore the mesmerizing landscapes of the continent where mystical beings, hidden treasures, and thrilling adventures await.

Crimson Desert State of Play trailer

It’s been quite a while since Crimson Desert’s last update, but PlayStation fans were treated to a lengthy spot of new gameplay during the September 24 Sony State of Play.

Crimson Desert gameplay

Crimson Desert gameplay features some incredibly flashy real-time combat, with lightning-fast melee hits and powerful throws. The developers have put a huge emphasis on group fights, rather than 1v1 player-to-monster combat. 

There’s even a scene where the protagonist seems to clutch onto a dragon and unleash a number of attacks, similar to the combat seen in Dragon’s Dogma. While gameplay showed off melee combat, the official website notes how players will be able to imbue weapons with the “mysterious art of alchemy”, which allows players to unlock additional abilities. 

At Gamescom 2023, Pearl Abyss provided a three-minute trailer featuring more gameplay of the upcoming title. The footage features intense combat scenes in different terrain as players explore the continent of Pywel.

So, there you have it, that’s everything we currently know about Crimson Desert. Make sure you check out our other game release hubs below for all the latest news and updates:

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