Open World
Ongoing coverage on Open World.
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What is Crimson Desert and why is it getting so much buzz?
Crimson Desert, an open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss, is generating significant buzz ahead of its March 19, 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game, set in the same universe as Black Desert Online, features a protagonist named Kliff and combines elements of Devil May Cry combat with exploration akin to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and a world reminiscent of The Witcher 3. The game's ambition, its proprietary BlackSpace engine, and impressive trailers have contributed to the hype.
Herdles Announced
Fire Sword Studios and One More Journey have announced Herdles, an open-world platformer set to release on PC via Steam. Players will control a magical dog in this upcoming title, with the release date yet to be revealed.
Wuthering Waves version 3.2 update ‘Resolution to Illuminate the Shadows’ launches March 19
Kuro Games announced that the version 3.2 update for their free-to-play open-world action RPG, Wuthering Waves, titled ‘Resolution to Illuminate the Shadows,’ will launch on March 19. The update is expected to bring new content and features to the game.
Grand Theft Auto VI Logo Sparks Scale Speculation Among Gaming Community
The logo for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI has sparked speculation within the gaming community regarding the game's potential scope and scale. Players are dissecting the logo's design choices, viewing them as clues to the development priorities and creative direction of the highly anticipated title. This intense community analysis highlights the significant anticipation and investment surrounding Rockstar's next major release.
Crimson Desert Console Gameplay Footage Finally Released, But There's A Catch
New console gameplay footage for Crimson Desert has been released, showcasing the PlayStation 5 Pro version. While the game performed well across various visual modes, concerns remain regarding CPU demands. Developer Pearl Abyss addressed player skepticism about console versions, emphasizing their commitment to transparency ahead of the March 19 release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Crimson Desert – 15 New Details That Have Us Excited
Crimson Desert is shaping up to be an expansive open-world action-adventure game with RPG elements, offering deep combat systems, NPC interaction, cooking, and even animal husbandry. The game will feature advanced graphical options, including ray tracing, and will support the PlayStation 5 Pro's PSSR upgrade for enhanced visuals.
Ghost of Yōtei’s World Feels Bigger Than Tsushima Thanks to Clever Tricks, Says Art Director
Sucker Punch Productions' art director Joanna Wang discussed how Ghost of Yōtei's world was designed to feel larger than Ghost of Tsushima through clever visual tricks and environmental design, rather than actual size. The studio experimented with mechanics like rock climbing, inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but ultimately decided against them to maintain the 'wandering ronin' fantasy. Ghost of Yōtei was released exclusively on PlayStation 5 in October 2025 and has received positive reviews.
Forza Horizon 6’s Tokyo City is Its Own Biome and Even Had a Dedicated Team, Says Playground Games
Playground Games has revealed that Tokyo City in Forza Horizon 6 is a massive, dedicated biome, five times larger than previous urban environments and developed by a specialized team. Art director Don Arceta and production director Mike Bennett detailed the city's diverse districts, including suburbs, a dockyard, an industrial area, and downtown, highlighting its complex multi-level road infrastructure and immersive design.
Outbound Steals the Spotlight at Future Games Show with a New Multiplayer Trailer
Outbound, an open-world cozy exploration title from Silver Lining Interactive and Square Glade Games, will launch on April 23, 2026, for PC and consoles. A new trailer showcased its 4-player co-op gameplay, where players can live, craft, and explore from a shared mobile base. The game is available for wishlisting on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Magical dog open-world platformer Herdles announced for PC
One More Journey and Fire Sword Studios have announced Herdles, an open-world platformer game for PC. The game features a magical dog protagonist and is being developed by the Vienna-based studios.
Are you ready for next week’s Crimson Desert launch? Here’s the official trailer!
Pearl Abyss has announced the official launch trailer for Crimson Desert, an open-world action RPG. The game is set to release globally on console and PC on March 19th, with pre-loading beginning March 17th. Over three million players have wishlisted the title to date.
Dread Delusion for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, and Xbox One launches March 17
Dread Delusion is launching on March 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The open-world game will be available on these platforms.
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan returns with a Western survival shooter
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan has returned with his new studio Kintsugiyama and an open-world action-survival shooter titled The Legend of California. The game, set during a fictionalized gold rush era, will feature PvE and optional PvP elements, cooperative play for up to four players, and will enter early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store later this year. Kaplan revealed the game during an appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, also discussing his departure from Blizzard due to business pressures.
We Finally Have Our First Look at Crimson Desert Running on PS5 Pro — but We're Still Waiting on Base PS5 and Xbox Series X and S - IGN
Digital Foundry has provided the first look at Crimson Desert running on the PlayStation 5 Pro, showcasing its ray tracing features and targeting 60fps in Performance Mode. While the Pro version appears impressive, the game's performance on base PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S has yet to be revealed. The developer, Pearl Abyss, has assured fans that optimization is ongoing ahead of the March 19 release.
The Legend of California Announced
Kintsugiyama and Dreamhaven have announced The Legend of California, an open-world multiplayer survival shooter. The game is set on the mythical Island of California during the gold rush era and will be released in Early Access.
Jeff Kaplan reveals new game, Legend of California, on the Lex Friedman Podcast
Jeff Kaplan, former lead of Overwatch, has revealed his new game, The Legend of California, developed by his studio Kintsugi Games with assistance from Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime. The open-world action game features a cowboy aesthetic set in 1800s Gold Rush-era California and will utilize voxel-based gameplay for mining. An alpha test is planned for March, with an Early Access release to follow.
Forza Horizon 6’s Tokyo City Is So Big and Detailed That it Had its Own Development Team | IGN First - IGN
Playground Games is expanding its development capabilities for Forza Horizon 6, with a dedicated team focusing on the game's massive and detailed Tokyo City map. The new map is five times larger than Guanajuato from Forza Horizon 5 and features diverse districts including suburbs, a dockyard, an industrial area, and downtown. The game will also include other biomes like the Japan Alps, highlands, low mountains, coast, and plains, with an elevation-based approach to biome placement.
Crimson Desert Launch Trailer Released
Pearl Abyss has released the official launch trailer for Crimson Desert, an open-world action-adventure game set to release on March 19. The trailer showcases footage captured on PC and highlights the story of Greymane Kliff. Crimson Desert will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Pearl Abyss Unveils Launch Trailer for Crimson Desert Ahead of March 19 Global Release
Pearl Abyss has released the launch trailer for Crimson Desert, an open-world action-adventure game set to release globally on March 19. The trailer showcases boss battles, character combat styles, and dragon-riding gameplay. The game has already garnered over three million wishlists and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Apple Mac, Epic Games Store, and ASUS ROG Ally.
Ex-Overwatch Director's New Game Is Giving Off Red Dead Redemption Vibes
The Legend of California, an upcoming open-world Western game from former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan's Kintsugiyama studio, is set to launch in early access on PC later this year. Developed by Kintsugiyama and published by Dreamhaven, the game features survival, crafting, and building elements in a 19th-century California gold rush setting, playable solo or cooperatively.
