Crimson Desert is here, and on sale at launch with this deal

Crimson Desert gameplay screenshot — An in-game screenshot of one of the many gorgeous vistas you'll find yourself staring at in Crimson Desert. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)

At the time of writing, the launch of the feverishly anticipated Crimson Desert — one of 2026's biggest and most ambitious titles, and a game with enough hype behind it to rival GTA 6 — is now less than 24 hours away across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Mac, and PS5.

Unsurprisingly, pretty much everyone is rushing to read reviews and get in their last-minute preorders. If that's you, I have good news: the Steam version of Crimson Desert is available for $60.99 at Loaded right now, which means you can get the $70 grand open-world fantasy adventure for nearly $10 off at launch. The pricier $80 Deluxe Edition is also just $69.99 at Loaded, too!

Crimson Desert is "unforgettable"

Official Launch Trailer | Crimson Desert - YouTube

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What developer Pearl Abyss set out to accomplish with Crimson Desert is nothing short of extremely ambitious — a gargantuan open-world action-adventure experience that has it all, from intense and skillful combat sequences and boss fights to rich and varied side quests to magical, deeply rewarding secrets to discover and everything between.

Indeed, it's been marketed as the game of your dreams, the ultimate fantasy adventure that will leave you drowning in fun content to engage with as you roam the rich and vibrant world of Pywel. It sounds too good to be true...and if Crimson Desert's reviews are anything to go by, it sounds like, at least in some respects, it is. In others, though, it absolutely delivers on its potential.

As my roundup of Crimson Desert reviews shows, the game has achieved an overall Metacritic score of 78/100. "Generally Favorable," sure, but far from the 90s and the "Universal Acclaim" many were hoping to see. Its combat, exploration, and discoveries to find in the open world have all been praised highly, though the main story and many of its side quests have been criticized for poor structuring and bland objectives.

In case you're wondering, Windows Central reviewed Crimson Desert, too; my colleague Michael Hoglund was the first member of our staff to dive into Pywel and play through Pearl Abyss' fantasy epic, and gave the game a glowing four-and-a-half-star review. He also gave it our "Must Play" badge.

"Crimson Desert is the kind of game that usually only comes along once in a generation, so singular in its ambition that it will define the gaming conversation for weeks, if not months, to come. Despite granular misses, Pearl Abyss has showcased what gameplay freedom truly means," he wrote, also calling it an "unforgettable" experience. "What Pearl Abyss has created is wonderful and should be celebrated in every way."

All in all, Crimson Desert stands out as one of those rare, unbelievably ambitious titles that commands everyone's attention, even if it didn't quite stick the landing in terms of its narrative structure, quest design, and its open-world activities. Still, the general consensus is that it's still a good game, and worth checking out.

You can get it for just $60.99 at Loaded or the Deluxe Edition for $69.99 at Loaded thanks to these awesome launch deals. Preordering last-minute so you can preload and jump in the moment it's out? I've got you covered with Crimson Desert's exact release date and launch times.

FAQ

Is Crimson Desert multiplayer?

No, Crimson Desert is not a multiplayer title. It's a single player experience, meaning that you'll be exploring the vast lands of Pywel all on your own.

Is Crimson Desert an MMO?

Nope! Pearl Abyss may have made Black Desert Online in 2017 and Crimson Desert may be set in the same universe as that game, but it's a completely separate single player title.

Is Crimson Desert on Xbox Game Pass?

Crimson Desert is not available to play through Xbox Game Pass, which will undoubtedly disappoint subscribers to Microsoft's gaming service.

Is Crimson Desert a Soulslike?

Crimson Desert is similar to Soulslikes in that melee attacks and timed dodges are core to the gameplay, though it lacks Souls mechanics like "bonfire" checkpoints or recovering lost experience from where you died. Ultimately, it's an action-adventure game, not a Soulslike.

Is Crimson Desert an RPG?

Crimson Desert has some RPG elements like crafting and upgrading gear, but it lacks hallmarks of the genre such as impactful dialogue options, leveling systems, and "building" a character. It's more of an action-adventure game than a true action RPG.

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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).

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