In 2019, Pearl Abyss announced the new MMO Crimson Desert. The game was originally intended to be the successor to Black Desert, but the structure has changed somewhat during development. Now it is supposed to combine a single-player campaign with a multiplayer world. However, there has been little news about the game for several months.
What kind of game is this now? In Crimson Desert, you take on the role of Macduff. With him and his mercenary band, you will experience a single-player campaign that will introduce you to the story of the world. Combat, exploration of the world, and puzzles are the main focus.
After the campaign, you should be able to create your own character and experience multiplayer content. You can expect:
- Fortress battles that are supposed to scale with large player numbers
- Open world events for multiple players
- Dungeons
- Trade between players
The official announcement states that the main story content will be seamlessly intertwined with the multiplayer and that there will be character customization that is supposed to set a new standard in the gaming industry. For example, enemies will be able to pick up and use dropped weapons from others.
Overall, it sounds a lot like GTA Online or Red Dead Redemption Online – you first play a solo campaign and then experience further adventures in an open world over the long term.
The game was first introduced in 2019 with this cinematic trailer:
Crimson Desert was supposed to be released in 2021, but has been postponed indefinitely
What is the status of the game? At the end of 2020, there was a lot of new information. Details about the content were shared, a gameplay trailer was released, and a release date of “late 2021” was given. In addition, there were some lore texts that were supposed to introduce the history of the game world Pywel.
But then it became very quiet around the MMO. The last news from the developers was on July 29, 2021 – almost a year ago. It stated:
We are currently working hard on the development of Crimson Desert. However, we have decided that it needs more time to implement all the new ideas and deeper gameplay. Therefore, to provide the best possible experience for everyone and to ensure the health and safety of all employees, we have decided to postpone the release of Crimson Desert.
Although there were also rumors that work on the game had been halted, Pearl Abyss denied this in a statement to MeinMMO.
At the end of 2021, the engine from Pearl Abyss was presented at G-Star, a Korean game fair. Footage from Crimson Desert was also used. Particularly the level of detail and the physics made a very good impression. However, there was no new information regarding the release or the status of the game.
A glimpse into the gameplay is provided by this trailer, which was released at the end of 2020:
The game deliberately references Game of Thrones to appeal to the West
Why does it remind of Game of Thrones? In Crimson Desert, things are dark and bloody, as shown in the first seconds of the cinematic trailer. In the gameplay trailer, there are also some scenes that clearly hint at betrayal and intrigue. Intrigues are also mentioned in the lore texts.
Notably, the main character Macduff is shown entirely in black, with fur on his shoulders and curly hair. He is also not supposed to be a typical hero but rather initially struggles with problems. However, through his companions and decisions, he grows continuously. This immediately evokes an association with Jon Snow.
But aside from that, there are also several hints towards the successful television series:
- There is a contrast between the wild ones from the icy cold and the “fancy” people from the warmer regions.
- Large cities are supposed to be repulsive, which immediately reminds of King’s Landing.
- There are slight forms of magic and alchemy, but that is not as dominant as in other fantasy MMORPGs.
- Dragons are shown and you can also ride dragons.
Is this all just coincidence? Probably not. These images are likely used intentionally to make the game particularly interesting in the West. Pearl Abyss already makes more money with Black Desert in NA/EU than in the entire Asian market.
Crimson Desert is also supposed to be released directly for next-gen consoles, which are also significantly more popular in the West than in Asia. The game clearly has a western target audience.
What do you think of Crimson Desert? Does this MMO appeal to you? Or would you rather stick with Black Desert or your existing games?
In addition to Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss is currently also working on another open-world adventure:
