Crimson Desert will be released on March 19, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Some interested players may now start the download and play – which is good for everyone.
Who is playing? On Reddit, ChunkeeM0nkee reports that the download of Crimson Desert is currently live on Steam. Included is a screenshot to support this statement. The test version of the open-world adventure is said to be 121 GB in size. The game is expected to have 34 achievements from Pearl Abyss.
Furthermore, ChunkeeM0nkee explains that he will be able to speak about his impressions starting March 18, 2026. We can confirm that the embargo date for reviews falls on that day. However, what ChunkeeM0nkee has not revealed is which medium he is allowed to test the game for.
As review access is usually distributed in waves rather than individually, many more testers will likely dive into Crimson Desert in the coming days.
Early review access? Usually a good sign
Why is this good for everyone? Crimson Desert is likely a very extensive open-world game where one can spend hundreds of hours. That the developers are distributing review access more than 2 weeks before release means that testers have sufficient time to take a thorough look at Crimson Desert in all its glory.
On the other hand, this shows that the developers are confident in the strengths and quality of their game. Those who are not do tend to delay review code distribution until shortly before or up to the release date, allowing as many uninformed players who don’t want to wait for the reviews to make their purchase.
For you, this means: When the embargo lifts and the reviews go live, there will likely be many hours of gameplay behind most of the evaluations. Moreover, you can cautiously look forward to a game that, at least the developers seem to believe, doesn’t need to hide from the testers.
How does the community react to ChunkeeM0nkee’s post?
- Issyv00 is excited on Reddit about the early access: “I’m glad that testers have enough time to review it. There’s nothing worse than underdeveloped reviews due to late review codes.”
- RocksteadyRider expresses skepticism about the embargo date on Reddit: “As open as they’ve been, whether through invitations or the release of showcases last month, I am still very skeptical that the embargo will only lift 24 hours before release.”
- Due-Music-340 responds to RocksteadyRider on Reddit: “I’m in your boat, but other games have done the same and received very good reviews, such as Expedition 33, Kingdom Come 2, and Alan Wake 2, I believe. Don’t get me wrong, I have my concerns, but hopefully, this isn’t an indication of bad reviews.”
- Arsh18808 is concerned about something else on Reddit: “Are the review codes only being sent for PC? … Hopefully, it’s not like Cyberpunk for PS4/Xbox. I believe that only the Pro console will make the game run properly, that’s why they’re holding it back as long as possible.”
The MeinMMO editorial team will of course dive into Crimson Desert as early as possible and will then tell you as soon as allowed what the open-world adventure from the creators of Black Desert is like. Our MMORPG expert Karsten Scholz is currently very optimistic: Crimson Desert is a solo experience with MMO scope, which could be as successful as the big RPG surprise of 2025
