An Age of Fading Legends. A Saga Written in Blood.

Journey through a vast realm fractured by conflict, a cold and callous desert, and cities as breathtaking as they are ruthless. There’s more to the world of Crimson Desert than at first meets the eye.

Write your own story of strife as you fight your way to survival. The battles fought will forever alter the course of history and the fate of the lands.

Not all will be prepared to endure the trials and tribulations unleashed by your enemies. Answer your calling and lead a band of battle-hardened mercenaries against those who seek your downfall.

Trust not those who dream of ruling, for their ideas of justice are often tarnished by greed. Learn to fend for yourself in a hostile world of monsters, mercenaries, and maniacal monarchs, each seeking your untimely demise.

During its 2Q 2025 FY Earnings Conference Call, Pearl Abyss revealed that Crimson Desert needs more time and is being delayed until Q1 2026.

"Currently, Crimson Desert is in the process of voice-overs while also carrying out tasks such as console certification in preparation for its release."

"In the case of marketing, we plan to participate in Gamescom and PAX West this August to showcase our open-world build. And in September, we will join the Tokyo Game Show to strengthen our marketing efforts in the Japanese market."

"The launch of Crimson Desert, our first large-scale triple-A console game, has been unavoidably delayed by one quarter, from the previously announced schedule. This is due to longer than expected timelines arising from schedule coordination and collaborations with multiple partners for offline distribution, voice-over, console certification, and other launch preparations."

"We sincerely apologize for not being able to meet the originally promised fourth quarter launch schedule. Please kindly understand that this is a strategic decision aimed at ensuring success on a meaningful scale."

"The release date has been internally confirmed for Q1 of 2026. However, given the change in launch timing, we will announce the date at a more appropriate time based on business considerations rather than making an announcement at Gamescom next week. We are grateful for your continued interest in our company, and we will do our utmost to deliver an even better experience going forward."

Crimson Desert is a story of growth and resilience. It is a story of mercenaries plagued by hardship and pain, and their endeavors to survive in a hostile world.

Crimson Desert tells the story of many different characters whose fates are entwined with the main character and his band of mercenaries. Each character has their own unique backgrounds and tales to tell, affecting everything from the decisions they make to the gear they equip. This extends to the lands of Crimson Desert, which are full of other mercenary groups each with their own distinct personalities and inclinations.

Players will face many dangers in the world of Crimson Desert. A diverse range of creatures, both big and small, threaten your survival. This is a world of mythical creatures who are neither friend nor foe, cruel mercenaries vying for blood, and powerful figures conspiring in the shadows of the royal court. Players won’t be able to let their guard down. To survive these bigger threats, they’ll need to learn to make strategic choices, all brought to life through Pearl Abyss’ unique, action-driven combat system. That being the case, the biggest friend or foe, as in any MMORPG, will be the player right beside you!

Crimson Desert offers an immersive single-player campaign teeming with engaging quests based on the exploits of many mercenaries you’ll find available for hire. In addition, fans can expect a vast amount of more online multiplayer content as seen in traditional MMORPGs.

While the name “Crimson Desert” was originally a region within Black Desert, Crimson Desert is in fact not a sequel, but a whole new IP. The title started as the prequel to Black Desert, but during development Pearl Abyss began to create an entirely different storyline and a whole new set of characters.

Key Features:

• Open world action-adventure  
• Immersive story with emphasis on character development
• Online features seamlessly interwoven with the main story content and multiplayer content 
• Fast-paced, dynamic action combat   
• True next generation 4K graphics and performance 
• Breathtaking character customization that raises the bar for the gaming industry

Crimson Desert is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC in Q1 2026.