Yesterday, South Korean developer Pearl Abyss held a corporate briefing in which it updated investors on the roadmap for its highly successful game, Crimson Desert.
As reported by Inven Global, company CEO Huh Jin-young provided an update on the Switch 2 port, which entered the R&D (research and development) phase back in March. According to the executive, it's still early days for optimization, so there's nothing to share yet on possible release timing.
We believe it is important to showcase Crimson Desert on as many platforms as possible. We are reviewing the Nintendo Switch 2, and it is currently being developed to a level where basic gameplay is possible. However, platform expansion is not just a simple port; the key is whether we can fully maintain the graphics, action, and open-world experience of Crimson Desert on that device. The Switch 2 version still requires optimization and technical verification, and we must also review partner collaboration and whether it meets our quality standards. Therefore, it is difficult to confirm a release schedule. We will announce it transparently once there is confirmed information.
The CEO also answered a question about a multiplayer mode for Crimson Desert. A few months ago, Huh Jin-young suggested that adding multiplayer was unlikely; now, though, he sounds much more positive.
I am aware of the high interest in multiplayer, given that Crimson Desert was initially planned as an online game. It is true that the action and open-world structure of Crimson Desert have long-term expansion potential. However, multiplayer is not just a matter of adding a mode. It is a major task that requires reviewing server structures, balance, platform-specific stability, and operating systems.
We are currently conducting various studies on both technical feasibility and gameplay. While it is not the stage to discuss a confirmed release plan, we are continuously reviewing ways to allow users to enjoy the Crimson Desert IP for longer, and I believe there is room for a multiplayer mode in that process.
Whether that's simply a co-op mode where other players take control of some of the existing playable characters or something else remains to be seen. As a reminder, Crimson Desert was originally announced as an MMO, albeit one that would be more narrative-heavy than the studio's own Black Desert. Then it was morphed into an open world action/adventure game with multiplayer support, and over the years, that multiplayer side vanished entirely.
Anyway, in the Q&A, Huh Jin-young also shared that more information about the announced Crimson Desert DLC is coming later this year. Moreover, the studio's next game, the creature-collecting adventure title DokeV, is currently slated for the second half of 2028.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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