Summary
South Korean video game developer and publisher Pearl Abyss has revealed thatCrimson Desert, its upcoming open-world fantasy experience, is launching in late 2025. Prior to working onCrimson Desert,the company released the popular MMORPGBlack 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 theupcoming medieval gameshowed off additional in-engine footage and even provided a launch window.
TheCrimson Deserttrailer 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 turnCrimson Desertinto 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?
The decision to releaseCrimson Deserton multiple platforms is already seemingly paying off for Pearl Abyss, asdata provided by analytics tracker SteamDBshowed 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 ofCrimson Desertpresented the game, which is being built using a proprietary engine called BlackSpace, as a challenging action-adventure title that many compared toDragon’s Dogma 2by Capcom and the latestGod of Warentries.
The Game Awards 2024 attracted four million concurrent viewers, making it the most watched ceremony in the show’s history, Steam Charts reported. Aside fromCrimson Desert, other upcoming titles like FromSoftware’sElden Ring Nightreign,The Witcher 4by CD Projekt Red, and a sequel to the PlayStation 2 classicOkamiappeared 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.
Crimson Desert
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the untold tale of mercenaries struggling to survive in the unforgiving lands of Pywel.Whether you intend to or not, your actions will influence the story of Pywel.Enter a war-torn realm of medieval fantasy, where allegiances are tested and heroes are made.The world of Pywel is ready to embrace fate.Will yours be the one that defines it?
