New information has emerged about the MMORPG Crimson Desert by Pearl Abyss, the developers of Black Desert. The online role-playing game is expected to enter beta in 2020. It is clearly planned for release in Europe and North America. A console version is also planned, apparently versions for PS4 and Xbox One are possible.
This is the situation: At the G-Star 2019 fair, Pearl Abyss showed the trailer for “Crimson Desert.” This is said to be a new “Next-Gen” MMORPG and is set in a Nordic setting: It reminded us of Game of Thrones.
Crimson Desert is to be developed with the new engine from Pearl Abyss. While it will be a “prequel” to Black Desert, it will not have much in common with the older MMORPG. It takes place some time before Black Desert and apparently in a different region of the same world.
Much more information was not known after the presentation. It could well have taken years before we could play the game here in the West: just like Lost Ark, which MMORPG fans have been waiting for 5 years now.
But that is not the case. Crimson Desert is coming much sooner than expected.
MMORPG Meets Story Like Console Blockbusters
What kind of game is Crimson Desert?
- Pearl Abyss calls it a “Next-Generation MMORPG” – they want to combine the content of MMORPGs with the way console games tell their stories
- There will supposedly be much more cinematics than in “previous MMORPGs” – the scenarios and the story are connected
- Crimson Desert is supposed to offer group and solo combat
- You should be able to switch the player character
- The endgame should differ completely from Black Desert
- Apparently, Crimson Desert is about building and developing a “mercenary gang.”
Beta of New MMORPG Already in 2020 – Release in the West Assured
When is it coming? A beta of Crimson Desert is supposed to come in 2020. It is planned for Korea. However, there should also be a test for the West in an English version.
It is said that Crimson Desert will be released worldwide and for “multiple platforms.” They have high hopes for the title.
What platforms those are exactly, Pearl Abyss does not say. In Korea, it is common to refer to “Consoles” when mentioning PS4 and Xbox One. In Korea, consoles are not a big deal – it is a PC and mobile nation. Therefore, they rarely elaborate on “consoles,” mentioning it only in passing.
Black Desert was also released for PS4 and Xbox One – so it is quite possible that Crimson Desert will receive a release for PS4, Xbox One and probably also for PS5 and Project Scarlett.
Everything we know so far about Pearl Abyss’s strategy speaks in favor of it. However, when the release will come is not known.
Pearl Abyss – The Most Exciting Company for MMORPG Fans
What’s behind it: It sounds like an ambitious project that aims to combine two elements that have not been linked so grandly before:
- The MMORPG gameplay with content and grinding
- And the storytelling of games like Red Dead Redemption 2 with cinematics – in which NPCs play an important role
Already in the trailer, it was noticeable that not a single hero is in focus, but several characters were shown acting together. Apparently, Crimson Desert wants to emphasize the story and “solo content” more than Black Desert.
Will it all work out? Pearl Abyss is currently probably the most exciting company in the “MMORPG” sector worldwide. Thanks to Black Desert they have full war chests. In Korea, Pearl Abyss is currently building a palace.
Pearl Abyss’s ambitions have been high for a long time: Already in 2017, the team of Black Desert grew from initially 80 people to 300.
Crimson Desert will show whether Pearl Abyss can implement its grand plans for MMORPGs and global success.
Crimson Desert is certainly one of the 2 or 3 most interesting MMORPGs, currently in development.
