Summary
- Crimson Desert by Pearl Abyss is set to launch in late 2025, featuring main protagonist Kliff and his Greymanes companions.
- The game will have a simultaneous worldwide release on PC and consoles, as Pearl Abyss opted not to make it a Sony exclusive.
- Early previews of Crimson Desert highlight challenging combat and an immersive open world on par with Dragon's Dogma 2 and God of War.
South Korean video game developer and publisher Pearl Abyss has revealed that Crimson Desert, its upcoming open-world fantasy experience, is launching in late 2025. Prior to working on Crimson Desert, the company released the popular MMORPG Black Desert Online, among other titles.
Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss' first single-player project, will follow main protagonist Kliff and his Greymanes companions as they travel across the continent of Pywel. A new teaser for the upcoming medieval game showed off additional in-engine footage and even provided a launch window.
The Crimson Desert trailer that aired during this year's recently concluded The Game Awards confirmed a late 2025 release for the title. According to Pearl Abyss, the game is set to have a simultaneous worldwide launch on PC and consoles. Sony wanted to turn Crimson Desert into an exclusive, but Pearl Abyss ultimately decided to publish the title independently. The developer explained to investors that this choice was more advantageous since it was already capable of publishing globally and had branches across the world. Under a typical exclusivity deal, 30% of a game's revenue would be used to cover platform fees, while the developer and publisher had to split the remaining 70%, Pearl Abyss said.
When Will Crimson Desert be Released?
- Late 2025
The decision to release Crimson Desert on multiple platforms is already seemingly paying off for Pearl Abyss, as data provided by analytics tracker SteamDB showed that the game now ranks among the 200 most wishlisted games on Valve's popular distribution platform. The title will offer a rich combat experience and an immersive open world as Pearl Abyss has promised. Early previews of Crimson Desert presented the game, which is being built using a proprietary engine called BlackSpace, as a challenging action-adventure title that many compared to Dragon's Dogma 2 by Capcom and the latest God of War entries.
The Game Awards 2024 attracted four million concurrent viewers, making it the most watched ceremony in the show's history, Steam Charts reported. Aside from Crimson Desert, other upcoming titles like FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign, The Witcher 4 by CD Projekt Red, and a sequel to the PlayStation 2 classic Okami appeared at this year's event. The December 12 show that was held in Los Angeles' Peacock Theater had plenty of key industry figures and celebrities as guests, including Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard, legendary Japanese developer Hideo Kojima, Remedy Entertainment creative director Sam Lake, actor Harrison Ford, and rapper Snoop Dogg.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- March 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Pearl Abyss
- Publisher(s)
- Pearl Abyss
WHERE TO PLAY
A devastating ambush in the deep of night by their sworn enemies the Black Bears leaves members of the Greymanes dead or scattered across the continent. Kliff – having lost his Greymane comrades, his family in all but name – is determined to reunite with the survivors, rebuild the fallen Greymanes, and reclaim what was lost. But on a journey where alliances are forged, dangers abound, and mysterious factions are uncovered, Kliff will come to realize that an unprecedented threat and a destiny greater than he imagined await him.
EXPLORE A LIVING, BREATHING WORLD
Welcome to the open-world of Pywel, a continent filled with mystery, fantasy, and tons to discover. Visit bustling towns and quiet hamlets, venture across vast plains, deserts, and mountains, and explore forgotten ruins, shrines, and other unique landmarks of the continent’s distinct regions. Gather resources, craft, hunt, and partake in the various activities of Pywel to also aid in your journey.
FORGE YOUR OWN COMBAT
The world is yours to explore as you will and there are many paths for you to uncover; ride various mounts from horses to wolves, even a dragon and machines, scale cliffsides and walls which you can leap from to glide, and go through mystical gates to find yourself in the mysterious realm known as the Abyss.
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW JOURNEY
On the unforgiving battlefields of Crimson Desert, there is no single path to victory.
Acquire weapons like swords, spears, and bows, and wield powerful abilities and elemental enhancements. Take advantage of the wide arsenal available to you and create lethal combinations to unleash even greater power.
With every strike and move, forge your own way in a world where a split second can decide your fate in fast-paced, visceral battles.
FACE RELENTLESS CHALLENGES
From ruthless warriors to fearsome beasts, there are those in Pywel who will seek your downfall. Encounter a diverse array of challenging enemies and bosses in brutal one-on-one duels, large-scale battle clashes, and quick skirmishes, and prevail against the threats that stand in your way.
THE BEGINNINGS OF A NEW JOURNEY
On the continent of Pywel, the rival factions of Pailune maintained a tense balance.
At Kliff's side stood his steadfast Greymane comrades: Oongka, Yann, and Naira.
That fragile peace is shattered with the sudden assault of the Black Bears. The Greymanes fall one by one in the ambush. In a desperate struggle against their fearsome leader Myurdin, Kliff and the few Greymanes who survive are scattered to the winds. Kliff, etching the names of his fallen companions into his heart, vows to rebuild the Greymanes and exact vengeance upon the Black Bears. Along this path, he would meet those who seek to upend the very order of the continent and face a mission unlike any he has ever known.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World, Exploration
