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From Doubt to One of the Most Anticipated Action RPGs
When Crimson Desert was first unveiled, scepticism followed almost immediately. Many questioned whether the ambitious project from Pearl Abyss would ever evolve beyond flashy trailers into a fully realised commercial release. Over time, however, consistent gameplay showcases have steadily shifted that perception.
What has emerged is a large-scale action RPG centred on exploration, spectacle, and cinematic combat. Our time with the game and other details have already highlighted dragon riding, sweeping landscapes, and large-scale environmental destruction, signalling a game built on scale as much as spectacle.
How Big Is the World of Pywel?
That sense of scale has now been put into clearer perspective. Speaking during the New Game+ Showcase, Pearl Abyss PR Director Will Powers confirmed just how expansive Crimson Desert’s open world will be.
According to Powers, the world of Pywel will be larger than the open world featured in Red Dead Redemption 2, a benchmark often used when discussing large, detailed environments in modern games. For context, Red Dead Redemption 2’s map is estimated to span roughly 75 square kilometres, making this claim particularly striking.
Bigger Than Skyrim, Without Feeling Empty
Powers also drew comparisons to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, stating that Pywel’s explorable area in Crimson Desert will be roughly twice its size. More importantly, he stressed that the increased scale is not intended to create empty space.
Instead, Pearl Abyss is aiming for density over sprawl, with the world filled with activities, dynamic events, and handcrafted content designed to reward exploration and keep the experience engaging from start to finish.
Crimson Desert is currently scheduled to launch on March 20. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
