Summary

  • Crimson Desert is aiming for a 2025 launch.
  • A multiplayer mode will be released after launch, compared to GTA Online.
  • The single-player should take about 50 to 80 hours to beat.

Crimson Desert is sticking to its expected 2025 release window, and will get a multiplayer mode after launch. It will also be about 50-80 hours in length in single-player with a "definitive ending".

This all comes from English translations of a briefing that developer Pearl Abyss held with investors in September. Here, the studio outlines some more details about its upcoming open-world RPG, including its plans for post-launch support.

While the original coverage of the meeting has since been made private, it was backed up and translated on both Reddit and ResetEra. Here, we have an overview of what was discussed, including the release window.

Pearl Abyss Reveals More Details On Crimson Desert, Including Release Date And Post-Launch Support

"Internally, we plan to release Crimson Desert next year, and after that, develop multiplayer online content for the game, similar to GTA's multiplayer mode," a Pearl Abyss representative is quoted as saying.

"There are concerns that revenue from console games is typically concentrated in the first year, leading to worries about long-term earnings," they continue. "That's why we're developing the multiplayer mode for Crimson Desert, which will feature in-game purchases like skins, weapons, and more."

That seems to suggest that these microtransactions will be limited to the multiplayer, and won't be in the single-layer from launch.

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I Saw Crimson Desert Gameplay Over A Year Ago—It’s Much More Than Its Boss Fights

Although the boss fights at Gamescom 2024 were stunning, it's really the open world that people will fall in love with.

Posts 1 By  Harry Alston

It's unsurprising to see Pearl Abyss compare its online mode to Rockstar's GTA Online. In the meeting, the studio is quoted as saying that Red Dead Redemption 2 is among the best games ever made, at least in the opinion of its chairperson, Kim Dae-il. Crimson Desert is also compared to the Red Dead Redemption series, as well as The Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed, and The Legend of Zelda.

This isn't all that was revealed in this briefing. As we covered yesterday, it was reported that Sony wanted Crimson Desert to be a limited-time PS5 exclusive, preventing it from releasing on Xbox at launch. However, we know that Crimson Desert is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at launch, so it seems that this offer, if real, was rejected.

Crimson Desert Like Follow Followed Action Adventure Open-World Exploration Systems OpenCritic Reviews Released March 19, 2026 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Pearl Abyss Publisher(s) Pearl Abyss 10 Images Close
Where to play Close

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

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.

Genre(s) Action, Adventure, Open-World, Exploration Powered by Expand Collapse