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2w ago

Pearl Abyss Shifts Crimson Desert Launch to Q1 2026

Pearl Abyss attributes the delay to partner coordination covering voice-overs, console certification, offline distribution; it will defer a precise launch date announcement until after Gamescom.

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An image about Crimson Desert is delayed to 2026, prompting worries that it could be overshadowed by GTA 6

Overview

  • Pearl Abyss has moved Crimson Desert’s launch from late 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, citing extended partner coordination for voice-overs, console certification and offline distribution.
  • The studio says the Q1 2026 window is internally confirmed and that a specific release date will be announced at a more strategic moment following Gamescom.
  • Crimson Desert began as a Black Desert Online prequel and MMO concept before being reimagined into Pearl Abyss’s first large-scale single-player open-world AAA RPG.
  • The game remains slated for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and will be playable at Gamescom, PAX West and the Tokyo Game Show ahead of its debut.
  • Analysts and community observers caution that the Q1 2026 window could pit Crimson Desert against other high-profile releases such as GTA 6, risking a crowded launch calendar.