Black Desert
News, coverage and analysis tracking Black Desert across the outlets.
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Crimson Desert Pre-Loads Begin on March 17th, Global Launch Timings Revealed
Crimson Desert's pre-load will begin on March 17th in Western regions and March 18th in Eastern regions, with a global launch set for March 19th at 3 PM PDT. Developed by Pearl Abyss, the single-player action-adventure game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The story follows mercenary Kliff as he navigates political intrigue and seeks to reunite his separated group.
Crimson Desert PC, Console, and Mac Specs Revealed by Pearl Abyss — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Pearl Abyss has revealed the PC and console system requirements for their upcoming open-world game, Crimson Desert. The developers are optimistic about the game's polish, noting it went gold in January. The game is built on Pearl Abyss's proprietary BlackSpace Engine and is expected to feature a main story lasting 50-80 hours.
Crimson Desert’s Final Hour: Gaming’s Most Anticipated Epic Arrives Next Week
Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss's highly anticipated open-world action RPG, is set to launch next week, potentially marking a significant moment in gaming for 2026. Despite years of development and multiple delays, the game aims to deliver a vast, narrative-driven experience with ambitious technical features and striking art direction. Its success could significantly impact the perception of Korean game development and the future of ambitious single-player experiences.
Here's A First Look At The World Map Of Crimson Desert
Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Powers discussed Crimson Desert, aiming to manage expectations after its initial reveal nearly seven years ago. He hopes the action-adventure game will stand on its own, separate from the legacy of Black Desert Online.
Morning Consolidation
Black Desert, a previous title from the developers of Crimson Desert, is available to play for free this weekend. Additionally, new games for Xbox releasing between March 9 and March 13 were highlighted, including the launch trailer for Back to the Dawn.
Crimson Desert Preview Suggests Unlocked 60 FPS Performance on Base PS5 Quality Mode
Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Powers discussed Crimson Desert's current state, aiming to avoid overhyping the game and differentiating it from Black Desert Online. The preview suggests the action-adventure title will support unlocked 60 FPS performance on the base PlayStation 5 in quality mode.
Crimson Desert: The Final Preview - IGN
Pearl Abyss marketing and PR director Will Powers discussed Crimson Desert's current state and the company's efforts to avoid overhyping the game. He also shared hopes for the action-adventure title to stand apart from Black Desert Online.
Pearl Abyss Positions Crimson Desert As An “Open-Word Action Adventure” Ahead of Release
Pearl Abyss has clarified that Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure title, distinguishing it from their previous RPG, Black Desert Online. Director of PR and Marketing Will Powers stated that this genre classification aims to avoid market confusion and better represent the game's focus on combat, exploration, and storytelling. The studio hopes Crimson Desert will offer a unique experience that stands apart from other open-world titles.
Black Desert begins free-play on console, adds O’dyllita to mobile, as Pearl Abyss talks Crimson Desert
Pearl Abyss has announced that the console version of Black Desert is free-to-play on PlayStation and Xbox until March 8th. Black Desert Mobile has also received the O'dyllita expansion and new timed bosses. Additionally, marketing director Will Powers confirmed that Crimson Desert has pivoted to a single-player open-world experience, benefiting from systems developed during its earlier MMO and multiplayer phases.
Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, FBC: Firebreak and Black Desert
This weekend, Xbox Game Pass members can play Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and Black Desert for free from March 5-8. FBC: Firebreak and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are also available for all Xbox members to try from March 5-8 and March 5-9 respectively. Players can keep their progress and achievements if they purchase the games at a discount.
"In a sense, we're kind of victims of ourselves" says Crimson Desert's chief marketer, who reckons it plunged over the announcement Kliff too early
Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Powers admits that Crimson Desert was announced too early, leading to confusion about the game's identity. He explained that the game has evolved significantly since its initial reveal six and a half years ago, becoming an amalgamation of its original concept and subsequent development, including the creation of a new engine. Powers believes this early announcement created an "air of mystique" but acknowledges it was a consequence of the team's own actions.
The Stream Team: Celebrating Black Desert’s 10th anniversary with cake
Black Desert is celebrating its 10th anniversary with in-game cake events. Massively OP's MJ Guthrie participated in the celebration by fighting mobs and collecting cake items. The article also lists upcoming streams for other games.
Crimson Desert's Will Powers Says Pearl Abyss Is Trying to Avoid Overhyping the Game So Players Don't Think It's 'the Second Coming' - IGN
Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Powers discusses Crimson Desert, aiming to avoid overhyping the game despite its long development and ambitious scope. He highlights the game's evolution from its initial announcement, its pivot to an open-world action-adventure genre distinct from Black Desert Online, and the developer's focus on creating a fun, cohesive, and shareable player experience.
After 6 hours, Crimson Desert is one of the most overwhelming, chaotic, madcap videogames I've ever…
Crimson Desert, the upcoming single-player action RPG from Pearl Abyss, offers a chaotic and unrestrained high-fantasy experience with an absurdly deep combat system. Despite its overwhelming complexity and a vast array of mechanics, the game aims to deliver constant "hell yeah" moments through its irreverent story and sincere presentation.
Crimson Desert: The Final Preview - IGN
Crimson Desert, an ambitious open-world action game from Pearl Abyss, is set to release on March 19, 2026. This preview highlights the game's detailed world, brutal combat, and quirky sidequests, drawing comparisons to titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3. The game focuses on protagonist Kliff's journey to rebuild his faction and confront a malevolent force, with a combat system that blends high-fantasy with eastern-style action.
The Stream Team: Sauntering back to Guild Wars 2’s Living World Season 4
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie is returning to Guild Wars 2's Living World Season 4, specifically chapter 2 'A Bug in the System,' to stop Joko. The stream will cover the history behind the Visions of Eternity expansion. The article also lists other upcoming streams featuring games like Black Desert Online and Where Winds Meet.
Crimson Desert passes 3 million wishlists as excitement around the single-player RPG builds
Crimson Desert has surpassed 3 million wishlists on Steam ahead of its launch on March 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. The single-player RPG from Pearl Abyss will feature no AI voice acting for NPCs and will be a premium experience without microtransactions. This milestone highlights a growing trend of Korean studios shifting from live service games to premium single-player titles.
Black Desert celebrates its anniversaries on PC and console, preps O’dyllita for mobile March 3
Black Desert is celebrating multiple anniversaries across its PC and console versions with various in-game events, login rewards, and special item exchanges. Black Desert Mobile is also preparing for the O'dyllita region update on March 3rd, which will introduce new monster zones and accessories.