Pearl Abyss has announced that Crimson Desert has surpassed two million wishlists across digital storefronts, marking a significant milestone for the upcoming open-world action-adventure title. The studio shared the achievement in a message thanking players for their continued interest ahead of the game’s release.
“Crimson Desert has reached over 2 million wishlists!” Pearl Abyss said. “Thank you for the incredible support. Your excitement means a lot to us, and we can’t wait to see you in Pywel on March 19.”
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game developed and published by Pearl Abyss using the studio’s proprietary BlackSpace Engine. The project was originally conceived as a prequel to Black Desert Online, but over the course of development, it evolved into a standalone, single-player experience with its own narrative and structure.
The game centers on Kliff, a mercenary leader navigating the war-torn continent of Pywel. Players follow his journey through large-scale conflicts, political struggles, and personal trials as they explore a vast open world. According to Pearl Abyss, the game world is approximately twice the size of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, emphasizing large-scale exploration and varied environments.
Gameplay is built around a complex combat system that combines traditional melee weapons, elemental abilities, and wrestling-inspired maneuvers. This design aims to provide a blend of grounded physical combat and more fantastical action, giving players multiple approaches to encounters.
In January 2026, Pearl Abyss confirmed that Crimson Desert had officially gone gold, signaling that core development was complete and the game was on track for launch. The title is now scheduled for a global release on March 19, 2026.
Crimson Desert will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and macOS. With more than two million wishlists recorded ahead of launch, the game is entering its final stretch with considerable anticipation surrounding its debut.
