Game development pushback: Crimson Desert shifted to early 2026 release
In a surprising turn of events, Pearl Abyss, the developer behind the action game Crimson Desert, has announced a delay in the game's release. Originally slated for a late 2025 launch, the game will now be released in Q1 2026.
The delay, revealed during an earnings call, is attributed to longer-than-expected timelines related to coordinating schedules and collaborations with multiple partners. These tasks include offline distribution, voice-over production, console certification, and other launch preparations. Pearl Abyss described the delay as "unavoidable" and a strategic decision aimed at ensuring the game's success on a meaningful scale.
Crimson Desert, a single-player spinoff from the Black Desert Online universe, has been in development for at least five years. The game has been making numerous appearances at various game shows in the last year, with many players and critics expressing excitement about its potential.
Last year, Morgan Park gave the game a whirl during the Summer Game Fest and found it to be strong but unwieldy. Harvey Randall, from Gamescom, also determined it was "shaping up to be an absolute riot to play so far." Mollie Taylor, a news writer at PC Gamer, who joined the publication in 2020, has been deeply invested in the game, believing it forms the pillars of her personality.
Despite the delay, Pearl Abyss has not planned to make a date announcement during the upcoming Gamescom show later this month. Mollie, who can often be found causing mischief in Final Fantasy 14 and using her experiences to write neat things about her favourite MMO, will undoubtedly keep a close eye on any updates regarding Crimson Desert's release.
In the meantime, the game is currently in the process of voiceovers and console certification in preparation for its release. Fans eagerly await the official release of Crimson Desert in Q1 2026.
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