Crimson Desert: 15 Major New Details You Shouldn’t Miss

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As Nietzsche famously said, staring into the void changes you, and in Crimson Desert, the world itself seems to be looking back. A new, detailed video has been released for this open-world action RPG, finally giving us a good look at the story of the main character, Kliff, what he’s trying to achieve, and the enemies he faces. The 15-minute trailer showed off stunning new locations, fresh gameplay, and even features we haven’t seen before. Let’s jump right in, starting with the most exciting reveal…

Additional Playable Characters

If you predicted this, you were spot on! Beyond Kliff, players can control two more members of Greymane. One is a skilled fighter with a greatsword and pistol, capable of quickly dodging and attacking from a distance. The other uses an axe and a wrist-mounted crossbow that fires flaming bolts. Each character has their own unique weapons, fighting style, and skills to master against the realm’s enemies. While it’s currently unclear how to unlock them, it’s likely tied to story progression. Once unlocked, you can switch between them and explore the world of Pywel at will.

Finding the Greymanes

The Greymanes are a group of mercenaries who were once together but have since become separated. Kliff is traveling across Pywel, trying to find them and bring them back together. However, their home country, Pailune, is in trouble. Since their leader died, a dangerous group called the Black Bears has caused a lot of problems. While Kliff wants to reunite the Greymanes – we even see a glimpse of them preparing for a fight together – ultimately, saving Pailune is the most important goal.

The Abyss

Kliff’s problems are just beginning, as a much greater danger looms over Pywel. High above the land lies the Abyss, a mysterious realm brimming with immense power – and that’s likely an understatement. Naturally, many groups are eager to control this power for their own evil plans, including a particularly dangerous band of assassins who can teleport and seem to delight in being secretive and malicious.

The Five Regions

Pywel is a vast world with five distinct regions, it’s easy to get lost in exploration! You begin your journey in Hernand, a charming town nestled among impressive mountains. From there, you’ll travel to Demeniss, considered the heart of Pywel and known for its majestic castles, and Delesyia, a hub of innovation and technology. You can also visit Pailune, famous for its beautiful fall scenery. And finally, the rumors are true: the expansive desert area is officially known as the Crimson Desert.

Faction Wars

The game lets you explore the world freely and progress at your own speed. However, engaging with the various factions is key to the main storyline. Some factions will welcome Kliff, while others will act as obstacles, needing to be defeated when you’re tasked with freeing territory. Beyond smaller skirmishes, you’ll also participate in large-scale faction wars and castle sieges. It’s common to find Kliff acting as a powerful, solo force in these conflicts.

Liberation Accommodation

Once you’ve defeated all the enemies and the area’s boss, the location is freed – and it feels like more than just completing a task. You’ll earn favor with different groups, and people will start returning. Buildings will be restored, new shops will open, and you’ll even get resources to help rebuild Pailune.

The Quieter Moments

While the story in Crimson Desert will likely involve more than just different groups, these factions seem to be central to the plot. The main story quests are described as large-scale, suggesting they’ll be multi-part adventures with impressive moments, like retaking forts we’ve already seen. Fortunately, the game also focuses on more relaxed activities. In addition to tasks like herding sheep, you might find yourself doing things like driving a wagon to a trading post, similar to what you’d find in Red Dead Redemption. These side activities appear simple, at least at first glance.

Abyss Fragments

The strange realm above Pywel is now dropping pieces onto the surface, similar to how things fall from the sky in Tears of the Kingdom. Players can find these pieces by using their sword to reflect light and pinpoint their locations. While the rewards like currency and artifacts are nice, they also seem to hint at something bigger – perhaps those floating islands will eventually fall to Pywel, or maybe it’s just a way for the developers to showcase their logo.

Artifacting

Abyss Artifacts are like skill points – finding them lets you learn new abilities and improve the ones you already have, making them well worth the effort. You can earn them by completing quests, clearing areas controlled by enemies, and exploring hidden spots, like areas filled with poison gas. You can also collect Abyss fragments to get even more powerful Sealed Abyss Artifacts.

Fixing the Abyss

And it doesn’t stop there! Later on, I got to explore the Abyss – these crazy floating islands. I used a tool kinda like the Ultrahand to piece together broken fragments, and honestly, the size of these areas is huge! There’s a lot of puzzle-solving if you’re into that, trying to figure out all the secrets. But don’t just look up at the islands – I found tons of hidden stuff right on the surface of Pywel too, so keep your eyes peeled!

Nooks and Crannies

Finding hidden treasures in Crimson Desert can be surprisingly varied. It might involve exploring dangerous Ritual Grounds for a powerful weapon, uncovering a secret room behind a blocked-up fireplace, or finding a treasure map in an ancient crypt. Some secrets are easy to spot, like classic hidden bookshelves, while others demand puzzle-solving, skillful platforming through crumbling environments, and even using your weapon to physically move parts of the world.

Knowledge is Power

In Crimson Desert, Knowledge might be the most valuable currency of all. It’s straightforward – travel to a new area, investigate, and you’ll gain information that can help with quests. But it’s more than that. Simply watching an NPC perform an action, like fishing, can actually teach you that skill. If this system works broadly, the possibilities for learning new abilities seem endless.

Threatening

We noticed an interesting option when interacting with one NPC: a “Threaten” command. While we didn’t test it, it suggests a lot of possibilities – maybe you can use threats to get information, rob people (which hints at a potential wanted system), or simply interrogate them. This adds a surprisingly rough edge to the usually proper character, Kliff.

The Thrill of Discovery

One of the most stunning parts of the game is the forest, where sunlight filters through thick trees, revealing a colossal creature. A network of platforms and cables connects the trees, offering plenty to explore. But that’s just a taste of what awaits. You can climb mountains, glide across vast landscapes, and discover diverse areas, each with its own unique appeal.

The Constellations in Your Eyes

There’s a peculiar phenomenon to discover when looking at a tower in the Steel Mountains. During the day, you can suddenly see a starry sky, suggesting you need to match this in-game constellation with a real one. We’re not sure what happens when you do, but with the release of Crimson Desert just under two months away, we’ll find out soon enough as more details are revealed.

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2026-02-05 15:47