Crimson Desert: 2023

(Note: Following 2023, the game’s release would continue to be delayed, with a target eventually set for late 2025.)

Pearl Abyss initially announced Crimson Desert in 2019 as a multiplayer-focused title set in the same universe as Black Desert Online . However, by 2021 and into 2023, the company clarified that the scope had expanded dramatically. In interviews and press releases during 2023, Pearl Abyss emphasized that the project had evolved into a narrative-driven, single-player experience, though they left the door open for potential online elements post-launch. This shift was seen as a strategic move to compete with Western open-world giants (e.g., The Witcher 3 , Red Dead Redemption 2 ) rather than with traditional Korean MMOs. crimson desert 2023

Crimson Desert (2023): A Pivot from MMO to Narrative-Driven Open-World Action (Note: Following 2023, the game’s release would continue

As of 2023, Crimson Desert had missed its originally planned “Winter 2021” release window. Throughout 2022 and into early 2023, Pearl Abyss remained largely silent, leading to speculation about development troubles. In the latter half of 2023, the company reaffirmed that the game was still in active development but refused to provide a new launch date. Instead, they announced that the game would undergo a “polish phase” to ensure a stable 4K/60FPS performance on consoles. Consequently, by the end of 2023, Crimson Desert had no official release date, with industry analysts predicting a 2024 or later launch. This shift was seen as a strategic move

Crimson Desert is set on the continent of Pywel, a land fractured by political intrigue, mercenary conflicts, and a mysterious phenomenon known as the "Crimson Desert." The protagonist, Kliff, is the leader of the Greymane mercenary group. Unlike the silent or customizable protagonist common in MMOs, Kliff is a fully realized character with a defined backstory: a traumatized father and commander seeking redemption for past failures. In 2023 trailers, the narrative tone was notably darker than Black Desert Online , emphasizing themes of betrayal, survival, and paternal guilt. The story follows Kliff’s journey to reunite his scattered mercenary company while confronting a looming, supernatural threat.

Originally conceived as a prequel to the massively multiplayer online (MMO) role-playing game Black Desert Online (2014), Crimson Desert underwent a significant developmental metamorphosis. By 2023, South Korean developer Pearl Abyss had rebranded the title not as an MMO, but as a single-player, open-world action-adventure game. This paper examines the state of Crimson Desert in 2023, focusing on its revealed gameplay mechanics, narrative setting, technological ambitions, and the context of its delayed release schedule.