- Primary Subject: Crimson Desert (Launch Version)
- Key Update: Crimson Desert officially launches worldwide on March 19, 2026, featuring a massive 110km² map and 76 recorded bosses.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Crimson Desert releases March 19, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Mac. It is a single-player action-adventure with a 150GB install and Denuvo DRM.
Crimson Desert is releasing in a few days, and players are already itching to play the game.
Pearl Abyss's first open-world action game is set to release later this week, and with 3 million Wislists on Steam, it's safe to say that the game is destined to have a successful launch. But before you drop a pretty penny on the new game, let's make sure you have all the information you need before swiping your card.
Here are 10 things you need to know before the launch.
What is Crimson Desert?
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game by Korean developers Pearl Abyss. For MMORPG fans, that name might sound familiar. They are the same company that gave us Black Desert Online in 2015.
Though they both feature the word "Desert" in their names, they are two different games with different storylines. However, we might see some easter eggs relating to Black Desert in Crimson Desert.
Crimson Desert is set in the mythical continent of Pywel. You will join Kliff on his journey to restore the Greymane Faction and protect the land from impending doom. In the open world, you can explore the vast wilderness, terrain, and abyss as you forge your path through legendary battles.
How Long Has Crimson Desert Been In Development?
Crimson Desert has been in development since the second half of 2018.
It was first revealed in August 2018 after Pearl Abyss filed the trademarks for Crimson Desert. In November 2019, the game was originally teased as an MMORPG. However, during the 2020 Game Awards, it was announced that Crimson Desert would be an open-world action-adventure game.
How Big is the Crimson Desert's Map?
Crimson Desert features a map size of roughly 80-110km² (approx. 30-42 mi²). This is huge - it is twice the size of Skyrim and even larger than Red Dead Redemption 2.
As mentioned, the game is set in the continent of Pywel. Some key points in the map include Delemenis( the political and military center), Hernand (a mountainous region), Pailune (the northermost region and home of the Greymane Faction), Deleysia (the tech hub), and Crimson Desert (a red desert known for its lawlessness).
There is also an area called The Abyss,
What Is The Combat In Crimson Desert?
Crimson Desert makes use of both weapons and magic for combat.
Videos have shown that there is a weapon wheel with 10 slots. Most weapons have been revealed and can be categorized as one-handed weapons, two-handed weapons, and ranged weapons. You can also use your hands and play unarmed.
There are also tools that allow you to use magical abilities. Most of these magical abilities involve elemental infusion, but there are also more advanced items that let you do more things, such as float or reflect objects.
Crimson Desert features a skill tree, which can be leveled up to include stats like HP and Stamina.
How Many Bosses Are There In Crimson Desert?
According to system logs, Crimson Desert has 76 bosses.
However, this is not the confirmed number - it is likely there will be more bosses revealed after the game has been launched.
How Long Will It Take To Beat Crimson Desert?
While there is no officially announced play time to beat the main story and side quests, it’s likely that Crimson Desert will take around 50-100 hours to beat.
Crimson Desert is a HUGE game and is not one meant to be speed-run. If you want to focus on the narrative and actually absorb the story, then we recommend taking your time to complete the main quest and side content.
How Many Playable Characters Are There In Crimson Desert?
In Crimson Desert, you primarily play as Kliff Macduff. However, he isn’t the only character you can play. Depending on where you are in the game, you can control other characters. Two notable characters that have been revealed include Damiane and Oongka.
While you can play those two other characters, the main quest follows Kliff’s journey, which means Damiane and Oongka will not be able to progress it.
What Are That Platform And Spec Requirements To Play Crimson Desert?
Crimson Desert can be played on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, ROG Xbox Ally SIX, and (surprisingly) the Mac.
The game will be 150GB on launch and has five tiers of performance: Minimum, Low, Recommended, High, and Ultra. You need DirectX 12 to play the game on any setting. Crimson Desert also uses Denuvo, which has people concerned about possible performance issues.
On consoles, the game has three graphical settings: Performance, Balance, and Quality. The Ally S has one performance setting only, whereas the Ally X has access to all three graphical settings.
MacBooks with the M2 Pro Chip and above can run Crimson Desert. This means the earliest models that can run this game are the 2023 MacBook Pro and the Mac Mini, but it can only run in the lowest setting. For other models, there are four graphical settings.
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