Crimson Desert promises one of the largest open worlds in 2026 role-playing games

A new industry livestream has offered fresh insight into Crimson Desert, an upcoming action role-playing game from South Korean developer Pearl Abyss. The game appeared during the inaugural New Game+ Showcase, an online event led by content creators that focused on gameplay footage and developer discussions rather than traditional stage presentations.

Although the showcase received mixed reactions for its informal, discussion-heavy format, it still revealed new details about several high-profile titles. Crimson Desert stood out due to claims about the sheer scale of its open world, positioning it as one of the most ambitious single-player RPGs scheduled for release in 2026.

Crimson Desert is being developed by the studio behind Black Desert Online, a long-running massively multiplayer online game known for its large environments and complex systems. The new title represents a shift towards a single-player action-adventure game while retaining MMORPG design elements, including expansive landscapes and detailed character progression.

Pearl Abyss has confirmed that Crimson Desert will launch on 19 March. The game takes place on the fictional continent of Pywel and combines fast-paced combat, mounted traversal and large-scale exploration, including the ability to ride dragons.

Developer claims map larger than Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2

During the New Game+ Showcase, a Pearl Abyss public relations representative, Will Powers, was asked directly about the size of the game world. This followed early preview coverage suggesting that the areas shown so far represented only a small portion of the overall map.

Powers responded with a clear comparison that resonated with RPG players. “Twice the playable area of Skyrim. It’s larger than the map of Red Dead Redemption 2. The area that you’re playing in, the continent of Pywel, is absolutely massive,” he said.

The claim immediately drew attention, as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2 are widely regarded as benchmarks for large, detailed open worlds. If accurate, Crimson Desert would place itself among the largest single-player game maps ever created.

Given Pearl Abyss’s background, the statement is not entirely unexpected. The studio has extensive experience building large-scale environments for online games designed to support thousands of players simultaneously. Crimson Desert itself reportedly began development as an MMORPG project before being reshaped into a standalone single-player experience.

However, large maps come with expectations as well as risks. Modern audiences increasingly scrutinise whether vast environments offer meaningful content rather than empty terrain designed primarily for traversal.

Focus on interaction and activities within the world

Anticipating concerns about space, Powers addressed how players will engage with such a large world. “Size doesn’t really matter if there’s nothing to do,” he said. “Open-world games are about doing things, having activities, having distractions, so we wanted to create a world that’s not only massive but incredibly interactive.”

The emphasis on interaction reflects broader trends in open-world design, where players expect dynamic systems, side activities and emergent gameplay rather than simply large distances between objectives. According to Powers, Crimson Desert aims to populate its world with systems that encourage exploration and experimentation.

During the discussion, streamer Luality pressed for more concrete examples of player interaction, asking whether features such as fighting dragons or forming romantic relationships with non-playable characters would be included. While specific details were limited, Powers highlighted the presence of “all sorts of deep crafting systems” as a core part of the experience.

The reliance on crafting and resource systems may appeal to players familiar with Black Desert Online. Still, it also raises questions about how varied the moment-to-moment gameplay will be across Pywel’s enormous landscape. In recent years, critics and players alike have argued that map size alone is no longer a meaningful indicator of quality.

As expectations evolve, developers face increasing pressure to ensure that terrain, travel and activities serve a clear purpose within the game’s design. Titles that successfully integrate environment and gameplay have been praised for making space feel intentional rather than decorative.

Crimson Desert’s promise of dragon riding, large-scale combat and deep systems suggests an ambitious vision. Whether that ambition translates into a consistently engaging experience across a map larger than many of its peers will become clearer closer to launch.