Thanks to Pearl Abyss, I recently had the opportunity to go hands-on with a demo build of its upcoming MMORPG, Crimson Desert. The build I experienced focused exclusively on combat and four intense boss fights. While I didn’t get to explore the open world directly, I did catch a glimpse of it, and what I saw left me genuinely impressed and eager to play more. So, what exactly is Crimson Desert, and why has it climbed to the top of my most anticipated games list?
If you weren’t already aware of who Pearl Abyss is, it is the developer of Black Desert Online, the globally successful MMORPG that first launched in South Korea on July 14, 2015. Since then, it has expanded to consoles, PC, and mobile, attracting millions of players and reportedly generating over $1 billion in revenue. Now, Pearl Abyss is shifting gears from multiplayer to a narrative-driven single-player experience with Crimson Desert.
Crimson Desert is an upcoming open-world RPG built using Pearl Abyss’s proprietary Black Space Engine, a next-generation engine developed specifically for expansive, high-fidelity environments. The game follows Kliff, a battle-hardened mercenary, and his crew as they navigate the sprawling continent of Pywel. From what I saw, the world is packed with detail and feels primed for deep exploration.
With Executive Producer Daeil Kim at the helm, Crimson Desert promises a blend of emotional storytelling, intense real-time combat, and richly designed characters. Pearl Abyss is aiming to deliver a truly premium open-world action RPG experience that appeals to players around the world.
What Exactly Did I Get To Play?
During my Crimson Desert hands-on preview session, I was given around 90 minutes to take on four of the game’s boss encounters. While the open-world segment was not accessible, the boss battle experience gave me a solid impression of what Pearl Abyss is aiming for with this ambitious open-world RPG. After a brief prologue that introduced Crimson Desert’s complex combat system and some early story beats, I jumped straight into the action. It’s worth noting that the entire demo was played on high-end PCs using DualSense controllers. I don’t have the exact specs, as I didn’t ask for them, though I probably should have.
One of the first things that stood out was the visual fidelity of Crimson Desert. The game’s graphics are stunning, with highly detailed lighting effects, realistic particle systems, and atmospheric environments. Even more impressive was the draw distance. Though I couldn’t explore the open world myself, I could see full cities and towns far in the distance with minimal pop-in. According to the developer rep, everything visible is explorable in the full game. While that claim is often made, this time it felt believable. As someone who values immersive worlds, I can’t wait to roam Crimson Desert’s massive map.
The Crimson Desert combat system was another major highlight. Although it took some time to adjust to the controls, the moment everything clicked, the gameplay became fluid and responsive. Each move felt weighty and purposeful, with a level of precision that’s uncommon in traditional action-adventure games.
For example, one boss encounter featured Hexe Marie, a sorceress who attacks with long-range magic and summons minions for close-quarters pressure. I used my sword and shield to handle the minions, then leaped into the air, performed a palm strike using R3 to gain height, activated precision focus to slow time, and let loose a volley of explosive arrows with my bow. It was cinematic, satisfying, and fully under my control.
Another fight involved Staglord, a sword-and-shield-wielding enemy whose attacks were more predictable but still deadly. Blocking, countering, and parrying all required different combinations of bumpers and triggers. The input complexity reminded me more of a fighting game than your typical RPG combat, and that’s a good thing. It adds a layer of mastery and depth rarely seen in modern open-world RPGs.
This complexity is both a strength and a concern. On the one hand, it provides a skill ceiling that can keep combat engaging for hours. On the other hand, it may pose a barrier to some players if accessibility options are not robust. I’ve reached out to Pearl Abyss regarding Crimson Desert accessibility features and will update this preview if I receive any official details.
You can watch my full Crimson Desert gameplay preview, including all four boss battles, on The Outerhaven’s YouTube channel. Yes, it’s my gameplay footage.
Of the four bosses, only one proved too difficult to defeat within the allotted time, mostly due to a unique mechanic I couldn’t quite figure out. Still, every boss encounter felt distinct, with unique visual design and mechanics that kept each battle feeling fresh and challenging. All fights took place in designated arenas, and straying too far brought up a warning and a countdown timer, signaling that I was leaving the combat zone. I’m not sure if this feature will make it into the final build of Crimson Desert, but it’s something worth noting.
Lastly, if you notice portals or loading screens between fights in my footage, those were temporary barriers used in the demo to prevent access to the full open world.
With its stunning presentation, deep and flexible combat system, and ambitious world-building, Crimson Desert is shaping up to be one of the most exciting upcoming RPGs. I came away from this preview more excited than ever, and Crimson Desert is now firmly on my list of most anticipated games.
What To Expect From Crimson Desert’s Open-World
As I mentioned earlier, I unfortunately wasn’t given the opportunity to go hands-on with Crimson Desert’s open world, but I did get to watch some gameplay footage, and from that, a few things stood out. The world feels alive, at least in major settlements, where NPCs engage in conversations and go about their daily routines, seemingly unaffected by the player’s presence unless interaction is required.
The game’s structure feels familiar, drawing inspiration from titles like The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed, and the more recent Zelda entries, both in its expansive world design and how exploration is handled. Dynamic events appear to unfold organically, reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption 2, with overheard conversations possibly leading to side quests, though it’s still unclear how dynamic or scripted these moments truly are.
Crimson Desert Is On My List
Based on what I saw and played, Crimson Desert is clearly aiming to take the best elements of well-established franchises in the genre while introducing a different gameplay style and adding complexity to create a unique experience. The fact that Pearl Abyss is achieving this using a brand-new engine specifically built for open-world games has me very excited. Not just for Crimson Desert, but also for how it could influence the future of the genre and game design overall.
Powered by Pearl Abyss’s proprietary BlackSpace engine, the preview build ran smoothly and showed impressive technical promise. Time will tell if Crimson Desert becomes the genre-defining title it has the potential to be, but based on what I’ve experienced so far, it has firmly landed on my most anticipated games list.
Crimson Desert is set for a simultaneous worldwide release on both PC and console platforms. A release for the title has yet to be announced.
