Pearl Abyss, the makers of Black Desert, have presented their first gameplay trailer for Crimson Desert. The game is set to release in winter 2021 and will officially be an “Open World Action-Adventure.” However, much of what is shown in the trailer and the accompanying information resembles an MMORPG.
What is happening with Crimson Desert? During the Game Awards 2020, the first gameplay trailer for the new game was released. You can see about 5 minutes of gameplay, showcasing various landscapes, cities, characters, and battles.
All content is said to be real gameplay that has not been polished for the trailer.
It is notable that Crimson Desert is very rough and bloody. This was already hinted at in the first story trailer, which reminded many of the successful series Game of Thrones.
Graphically, the new game is very similar to its predecessor Black Desert. You can recognize the game style in the characters, battles, and landscapes, although it appears to look slightly better than its predecessor.
However, there is said to be a big difference between the two games. Black Desert is officially an MMORPG, while Crimson Desert is not.
What is Crimson Desert now? Originally, the game was announced as the second major MMORPG from Pearl Abyss. But even in the last teaser, all hints of an MMO or MMORPG were missing.
Instead, the video description referred to it as an “Upcoming Open World Action-Adventure.” This description is also present in the new press release.
Previously, the game resembled more of a single-player experience:
- The focus will be on the story
- You are the leader of a mercenary band, who visually resembles Jon Snow. He has a tragic backstory and now leads his group to survive in the harsh world
- Within the story, you can also play as other characters from the group
Recently, Pearl Abyss published more new information about Crimson Desert. These descriptions explicitly mention multiplayer content. And much of it indeed resembles an MMORPG.
Crimson Desert promises content for solo and multiplayer fans
What multiplayer content is there? According to the press release, Crimson Desert will contain content for both solo and multiplayer fans. These include:
- Fortress battles that are said to scale massively
- Open world events for multiple players
- Dungeons
Additionally, the release states that the main story content will be seamlessly intertwined with multiplayer and that there will be character customization that sets a new standard in the gaming industry. While these may not be direct multiplayer contents, both indicate that multiplayer should play a role.
A little bit, the descriptions remind of the MMORPG ESO. There, most content can also be experienced alone, and players are almost never reliant on others. The only exceptions are PvP and dungeons. It’s no wonder that ESO is among the best MMORPGs for solo players.
However, how exactly players can interact with each other and whether they can possibly participate in story missions is currently unclear. We will have to wait for more information from the developers.
4K graphics, action-packed battles, and flying mounts
What else has been revealed about Crimson Desert? From the trailer, you can already glean some content that awaits you in the open world action-adventure:
- Action-packed battles featuring various weapons such as swords, shields, daggers, and axes have been shown. There are also unarmed combat scenarios where you use your fists or kicks
- There will be puzzles and riddles that you need to solve
- Players can ride giant, mystical creatures and even fly
Additionally, the developers revealed that Crimson Desert can be played entirely in 4K. The release of the game is still planned for winter 2021, and there are supposed to be beta phases before that.
What else is Pearl Abyss working on? In addition to Crimson Desert, the developer Pearl Abyss is also working on two other multiplayer games, including the family-friendly MMO DokveV and the new shooter Plan 8. You can find out more about these two titles here:
