This article is a translation of the following Japanese article:
Original: 【紅の砂漠】開発会社・Pearl Abyssの特徴と期待されるゲーム性
The “next ambitious work” beyond the success that can be said to be a series
[Crimson Desert] is a next-generation open-world action-adventure game developed by Pearl Abyss, a Korean game developer known for
Black Desert Online.
The release date has been announced as scheduled for March 19, 2026, and the latest information is being released one after another at game events around the world.
Author: “[Crimson Desert] is a work that brings to fruition the technology and concept of Pearl Abyss, and is not just a ‘sibling work of Black Desert.”
In this article,
- Characteristics of development company Pearl Abyss
- Development history and direction of [Crimson Desert]
- Points that attract attention, expectations and concerns on the internet
- Future development forecast
.
① What is Pearl Abyss
Pearl Abyss is a Korean game company founded in 2010.
Their masterpiece “Black Desert” has been a worldwide hit and is known as a major title that includes cross-platform and multilingual support.
Company characteristics
- Strong creative orientation
- Focus on technical capabilities using our own engine
- Large-scale open world production results
- MMO/single and dual axis development capabilities
There is a point.
In particular, the unique engine called BlackSpace Engine inherited and evolved the technology from “Black Desert”, and has strengths in physical expression, natural environment, light and shadow, weather changes, etc.
Author: “Pearl Abyss can be said to be a company that has pursued the expressive power of worldviews” by accumulating technological capabilities and open world design know-how.”
② Positioning of [Crimson Desert]
When it was first announced, Crimson Desert was conceived as a prequel to Black Desert.
However, as development progresses, there is a shift towards completely independent titles.
What kind of game will it be?
- Open world action adventure
- The player controls Cliff, the main character of the mercenary group
- A journey and battle set on the vast continent “Feiwel”
- Focuses on realistic combat, exploration, and quests
has been revealed. In addition, it has been introduced as a notable work on the PS5 store, along with Death Stranding 2 and Monster Hunter, and it has been reported that the game has high expectations as a global title.
Author: “[Crimson Desert] is likely to be a challenging work that will push open world to a new standard as Pearl Abyss’ next major work.”
③ Technical features
Pearl Abyss uses its own engine, BlackSpace Engine, to pursue
beautiful graphics and realistic world expression.
This engine is
- DLSS 4対応
- Ray tracing compatible
- Multi-frame generation
- High-definition world rendering
and seems to be aiming for high quality in both visual and performance aspects.
Author: “The accumulation of technological advances is proof that Pearl Abyss is aiming to become an “open world title that can compete on a global scale.”
④ Forecasting the direction of the experience and the gameplay
According to the evaluation of the released demo video and playable version,
- High degree of freedom in quest progression and exploration
- Combat is dynamic and realistic
- The tension of the battlefield and the changes in the environment are the big attractions
There are some notable points. Additionally, although the map design and weather/light effects are an extension of Black Desert, there are reports that the game is designed with a greater focus on storytelling and immersion.
Author: “I feel that Pearl Abyss emphasizes not only beautiful visuals, but also an immersive experience of walking around the world.”
⑤ Online expectations and some concerns
On SNS and bulletin boards, there are many expectations from players and industry officials.
While some people praise the wide range of system implementation and high degree of freedom,
- Development is taking a long time
- Information disclosure is limited
(from communities such as reddit). However, the official team has been disseminating the latest information through demos and holding many events, and fans’ expectations remain high.
Author: “There is a tendency for information to be narrowed down for larger titles, but this can also be interpreted as proof that they are well-made.”
⑥ Future outlook
Preparations are underway for [Crimson Desert] to be released in March 2026.
After release,
- Evaluation as an open world RPG
- Pearl Abyss brand power
- Gaining a different fan base than “Black Desert”
attracts attention.
Author: “I think this is a title that has a high possibility of being evaluated as a new representative work of Pearl Abyss,” rather than just the next work.
Summary | [Crimson Desert] as the culmination of Pearl Abyss
[Crimson Desert] is
- BlackSpace Engine, a crystallization of technology
- Open world aiming for high degree of freedom and immersion
- An anticipated work that will be developed as a global blockbuster
In that sense, it is Pearl Abyss’s culmination of past work and a challenge for the future.
Author: “Rather than being a simple open-world RPG, I think Pearl Abyss is aiming for worldwide acclaim as a work that incorporates everything that Pearl Abyss has cultivated to date.”
Judging from the announcement event information and technical announcements,
It is likely to be a masterpiece that reflects the company’s identity, rather than just a “work aimed at becoming a AAA title.”