15-minute video showcases open-world elements players will experience, including story, regions, exploration and quests
Manhattan Beach, CA – January 29, 2026 – Pearl Abyss has released a new featurette video offering an in-depth look at Crimson Desert, detailing the game’s protagonist, expansive open world and some of the game elements.
This video details story and motivation for Kliff, the game’s main character, and the continent of Pywel, a seamless open world where the story unfolds. Pywel features sprawling wilderness, bustling cities, ancient ruins and diverse regions, all set against a backdrop of escalating conflict and supernatural danger.
Players take on the role of Kliff, a warrior of the Greymanes, a faction from the northern region of Pailune known for its commitment to peace and unity. Crimson Desert begins in the aftermath of that peace being shattered, tasking Kliff with reuniting the Greymanes and reclaiming their homeland. As the journey expands, players discover that the fate of the entire continent is at stake.
A central threat emerges from the Abyss, a mysterious realm whose growing imbalance sends fragments crashing into Pywel. There are those who would exploit these remnants, pushing the world toward chaos. Restoring balance to the Abyss and confronting those who exploit its power become key elements of the narrative.
The featurette also outlines Crimson Desert’s open-world structure. Pywel is divided into five distinct regions: Hernand, Pailune, Demeniss, Delesyia and the Crimson Desert, each offering its own stories, environments and challenges. While the main quest follows Kliff’s journey, players are free to explore the world in any order, taking faction-driven quests, large-scale battles, fortress sieges and smaller, character-focused missions.
As the story progresses, two additional playable characters join Kliff. Each character features unique combat styles, skills and weapons, allowing players to experience exploration and combat in different ways.
Exploration plays a major role, with players able to traverse Pywel on horseback, climb terrain, glide across distances and later access advanced traversal options such as a missile-firing mech and a dragon. The world is filled with hidden treasures, ancient mechanisms, puzzles and points of interest designed to reward curiosity and discovery.
Combat encounters range from enemy soldiers and sorcerers to ferocious beasts and machines, testing players’ adaptability and skill. Powerful artifacts and equipment can be earned through quests, combat or exploration, while knowledge gathered from the world and its inhabitants provides clues and guidance, or even opens paths to acquire new skills.
Pre-orders are now live across PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Game Store and Apple Mac.
For more information, please visit the official website and follow Crimson Desert on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
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About Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Pearl Abyss, aiming for a global release on console and PC platforms. A devastating ambush in the deep of night by their sworn enemies the Black Bears leaves members of the Greymanes dead or scattered across the continent. The Greymane Kliff is determined to reunite with his surviving comrades and rebuild what was lost. On a journey where alliances are forged, dangers abound, and mysterious factions are uncovered, Kliff comes to realize that an unprecedented threat and a destiny greater than he imagined await him.
About Pearl Abyss
Established in 2010, Pearl Abyss is a leading developer in the game industry with its renowned MMORPG franchise Black Desert, which is available on PC, mobile, and console. All of Pearl Abyss’ games are built on the company’s proprietary engine and are renowned for cutting-edge graphics. Pearl Abyss is currently developing Crimson Desert, DokeV, and PLAN 8 using its next-generation game engine and is poised to grow its overseas market. More information about Pearl Abyss is available at: www.pearlabyss.com.
Jonathan Frankel