New Crimson Desert Announcement Proves It Should Succeed Where Other Open-World Games Failed

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Pearl Abyss, the team behind the upcoming game Crimson Desert, recently shared exciting news, increasing hype for the title. Currently slated for release in the first half of 2026, Crimson Desert is looking like a standout game with its vast open world and dynamic combat system, potentially offering players a truly new experience. With anticipation already high, the developers have now addressed a key concern fans had about the game.

So, I was listening to the Dropped Frames podcast, and Will Powers from Pearl Abyss dropped some awesome news about Crimson Desert. Basically, they’re saying there will be absolutely no microtransactions. You just buy the game once, and that’s it! Powers said they’re aiming for a true “premium experience,” which is super refreshing to hear, especially since so many open-world games these days are packed with ways to spend extra money after you’ve already bought the game. It sounds like Crimson Desert is really trying to do things differently, and honestly, I’m here for it.

Powers stated clearly that the game won’t have a store where players can buy cosmetic items. The game is designed as a complete, paid experience – players buy it once and enjoy the world without needing to spend more money on in-game purchases. This is how they plan to make money; unlike free-to-play games, they won’t rely on microtransactions. Buying the game is the only transaction needed.

Crimson Desert Seems to Know What Players Want

The news that Crimson Desert won’t include any in-game purchases is a welcome surprise, and shows Pearl Abyss understands players’ frustration with these types of transactions. Many recent full-price games, like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and even the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, still include microtransactions. It’s great that Crimson Desert is going against this trend, and it suggests the game will be a high-quality experience.

Crimson Desert is launching next month on March 19th. Players will be able to experience the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

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2026-02-17 00:41