Open-World RPG Crimson Desert Showcases Massive Battles…

Over 13 minutes of new Crimson Desert gameplay footage have been released. Captured from the game's latest demo, the video showcases various aspects of the upcoming open-world RPG, including Crimson Desert's exploration, questing, and combat.

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Developed by South Korean studio Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert was initially conceived as a prequel to the company's hit MMORPG Black Desert Online before pivoting to a standalone single-player experience set in the same universe. It has been in development since 2019 and has suffered several delays. Most recently, Pearl Abyss announced that Crimson Desert would slip into Q1 2026.

Crimson Desert Reveals Wild Open World Gameplay

At Gamescom Opening Night Live, Pearl Abyss pulls back the curtain on Crimson Desert with the game's first new trailer in nearly three years.

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By James Ratcliff

Crimson Desert Gamescom 2025 Demo Gameplay Footage Released

In the meantime, fans will get a chance to play Crimson Desert at Gamescom 2025 and the next iteration of PAX West. Pearl Abyss has now shared some new footage from the demo that will be featured at the upcoming events. The 13-minute video opens with the protagonist, Greymane Kliff, entering the region of Calphade, where a violent rebellion instigated by one Cassius Morten is taking place. As war rages on, several quests—including cannon firing and tower demolition—are shown.

Crimson Desert Showcases Two Boss Fights

Crimson Desert's combat will emphasize flexibility, with Kliff being able to seamlessly switch between melee weapons, elemental magic, and special abilities like Artillery Whistling Arrows and Axiom Bracelet. Two boss fights are featured in the demo footage, the first one of which sees the protagonist face off against a massive member of the Black Bear faction. Near the end of the video, Kliff fights Cassius Morten himself. The leader of the rebellion is armed with a hard-hitting mace and shield, and requires careful maneuvering while looking for an opening to attack. The environment in this fight is shown to be partially interactive, allowing the protagonist to use a special skill to lift the broken pillars around him and repurpose them as devastating weapons.

Apart from questing and combat, the new footage also offers another look at Crimson Desert's exploration, which looks vaguely reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Specifically, Kliff can quickly cover great distances on horseback, in addition to having access to a gliding ability, called Crow's Wing. Both of these traversal methods also have combat applications.

While Pearl Abyss recently attached a Q1 2026 launch window to Crimson Desert, the open-world RPG is still waiting for a firm release date. The South Korean developer has so far confirmed the game for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and desktops, including both Windows and macOS systems. Additionally, a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Crimson Desert may also be in the works, according to a recent GameStop leak.

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