Crimson Desert has the potential to be one of the biggest games of 2026.
Set to launch March 19, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and macOS, it promises to be a massive, gorgeous open‑world action RPG. Combat is intense and fast-paced. It feels like a mix of Soul Calibur and Dark Souls. Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert Online, has been working hard to deliver a focused, single‑player experience that will impact the game’s environment.
It sounds like several RPGs rolled into one ambitious project. There’s a lot of excitement, but for some gamers there’s a level of skepticism that it’ll actually deliver on its promises. Crimson Desert’s release will follow a long list of games that developers swore would be the next big thing, only to fail spectacularly.
A Decade of Broken Promises
It didn’t happen all at once. Cyberpunk 2077 was the turning point for most people. There was a lot of anticipation since it was being developed by CD Projekt Red, fresh off The Witcher 3, one of the most beloved RPGs ever made. Unfortunately for them, the game was unplayable due to bugs, broken AI and performance issues on consoles. The launch was so bad that Sony pulled the game from the PlayStation Store.
No Man’s Sky is another example. British indie studio Hello Games, the developers failed to include promised features in the game. Repetitive gameplay and severe technical issues were piled on top of that, making players question why they spent $60 on something so buggy. After years of patches and updates, the game is hailed for having one of the best redemption arcs in gaming.
Anthem, BioWare’s live-service RPG was panned by critics for the lack of engaging content. The game’s servers were shut down on January 12, 2026, making it impossible to play as it was designed to always be online.
Bethesda’s Starfield, was a disappointment due to bugs and broken space travel with planets lacking their own identity.
That is just a small sampling of a very long list. And for gamers, it feels as if most of the industry forgot how to make quality games anymore.
Are Some Gamers Being Overly Cautious?
Crimson Desert’s pitch is extremely ambitious. A massive open world with distinct biomes. A reactive faction system, a “Wanted” mechanic. Crafting, alchemy, cooking, fishing, three playable characters.
The skeptics aren’t wrong to be cautious. But what if they’re projecting their fears on the wrong game?
Previews for Crimson Desert have been positive. The hands-on demo was available for the people who attended Summer Game Fest 2025. Those who played the demo had mostly positive things to say though they did acknowledge the game needed more work. That’s a promising sign that Pearl Abyss is confident in Crimson Desert while being open to feedback.
And yet that nagging feeling that there must be a catch is overwhelming. Even when there isn’t a clear band of detractors, a general feeling of suspicion remains. That hesitation is a reaction the industry itself encouraged. Players have been burned enough times. They know the warning signs, which is something we saw with Highguard. But when you always find yourself on edge whenever a new game is announced, it makes it harder to give those games a chance to prove themselves.
Pearl Abyss carries its own baggage
Some of the skepticism isn’t about Crimson Desert at all.
Pearl Abyss built their reputation on Black Desert Online, an MMO known for aggressive monetization, a deep grind and a design that prioritizes engagement over enjoyment. For players who know that game, watching the same studio promise a focused, narrative-driven single-player experience triggers a specific kind of doubt. Old habits die hard.
This is a legitimate concern. But it’s also worth noting what Pearl Abyss has actually done with Crimson Desert. The game is buy-to-play. There’s no subscription and progression focuses more on exploration instead of XP grinding. The developers have moved away from the systems that represent the worst Black Desert Online had to offer.
Studios can evolve, and dismissing Crimson Desert solely because of Black Desert Online’s reputation isn’t fair. It’s like refusing to watch a director’s new film because you didn’t like their debut.
Whether Pearl Abyss has truly learned from Black Desert Online won’t be clear until Crimson Desert is out. But the evidence available suggests they’ve at least tried.
Maybe Let Yourself Believe It
What Crimson Desert is asking of players is to trust it’ll be a good game. To give it the chance to show it can live up to the expectations Pearl Abyss has set for them. To hope that this time, a game that looks like everything you’ve ever wanted might actually be everything you’ve ever wanted.
