Crimson Desert release date and preorder rewards finally announced
Crimson Desert, the massively anticipated open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss (of Black Desert Online fame), puts players in the boots of Kliff, a mercenary leader struggling to reunite his band while navigating the war-torn continent of Pywel. First announced in 2019, the game has endured multiple setbacks, with developers citing extended work on voice acting, certification, and logistics.
A new story trailer accompanied the announcement, highlighting cinematic battles, political intrigue, and Crimson Desert’s gritty atmosphere.
Until now, Crimson Desert’s timing was uncertain. Originally pegged for a 2025 release, Pearl Abyss had previously pushed the project into Q1 2026, citing necessary work on voiceovers, certification, distribution coordination, and other launch logistics. This trailer marks the first solid release date in recent memory, with the firm March 19th, 2026 date only leaving fans a measly 5 months wait time before they can finally get their hands on the title.
The end of the trailer showcased the game's preorder bonuses.
Pearl Abyss confirmed that all preorders will include the Khaled Shield as an in-game bonus. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 buyers will get an extra Grotevant Plate Set as a PS5 exclusive preorder add-on. The Deluxe and Collector’s editions stack on extra cosmetic sets like the Kairos Plate Set, balanced shield options, and mount gear — but Khaled Shield is the baseline preorder incentive for everyone.
Crimson Desert is available now available for pre-purchase, and will be releasing on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. With everything from flying mechs to riding dragons, this title has likely captured the curiosity (and hype) of many, but with Pearl Abyss’ history of delays, fans can only wait and see if March 19th, 2026 truly sticks.
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