With Crimson Desert launching on March 19, 2026, a potential highlight of role-playing games for PC, PS5, and Xbox is on the horizon. MeinMMO summarizes for you before the release why purchasing could be worth it.
When an Asian studio with an MMO background releases a new role-playing game, skepticism is often warranted. This is especially true when the development process has been as turbulent and lengthy as it has, with the genre even changing mid-course and with aggressive monetization being a core issue in the predecessor’s game.
All of this applies to Crimson Desert, which will be released on March 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, MacOS, GeForce Now, the Epic Games Store, and Steam.
The new open-world adventure from Pearl Abyss is currently generating much anticipation, even among us at the MeinMMO editorial team. In the following pages, we will discuss what the reasons are and why you can be excited about Crimson Desert despite some warning signs. We will address the biggest warning signs in a subsequent article.
Reason 1: The Battles
Crimson Desert places a strong emphasis on combat conflict. Most quests revolve around taking down others. Trying to talk your way out of a fight? You’re in the wrong place! Everywhere in the world, hostile troops and tough bosses await you, who will strike first and ask questions later.
The good news is that the responsible studio Pearl Abyss has created Black Desert, the MMORPG with the currently best action combat system. The developers know exactly what they are doing. We noticed this already during our first play opportunities.
Yes, the large number of options in combat was overwhelming – but we were also controlling a veteran with countless skills and maneuvers, not a freshly created hero. Nevertheless, the battles felt really good and were fun. The hit feedback was wonderfully powerful. Each blow carried considerable force.
It’s great that in Crimson Desert you don’t just grab a weapon and chase enemies. You combine various melee and ranged weapons, cast spells or wrestling moves, and activate special powers – with each of the 3 playable characters bringing their own fighting style.
Or you fight from your mount and let your bear dish out slaps, your dragon breathe fire, or a mech fire rockets.
In Crimson Desert, you can expect a variety of challenges – from chaotic large-scale battles and sieges to the aforementioned boss battles with multiple phases and special mechanics.
If this aspect of Crimson Desert is as enjoyable as hoped, we are looking forward to a genuine highlight for the gaming year 2026. But there are more reasons to be excited about Crimson Desert – and they will be discussed in the upcoming pages.
