New PS5 Open World Action-RPG Shows Off Its Absolutely…

Crimson Desert, the ambitious open-world action RPG from Black Desert developer Pearl Abyss, already looks like it could be one of the biggest fantasy adventures of 2026 as it approaches its March 19, 2026 release on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Set on the continent of Pywel, Crimson Desert drops players into a massive open world filled with bustling cities, natural landscapes, and hidden ruins waiting to be discovered. Now, the developer is beginning to pull back the curtain even more on that world, after publishing the first major features overview of Crimson Desert on its YouTube channel.

The features overview offers a deeper look at just how expansive Pywel is, with a seamless open world made up of five unique regions, each with its own factions, conflicts, and points of interest. Designed to fully leverage modern hardware like the PS5, Crimson Desert's world is all about scale and freedom. From faction battles and fortress sieges to side quests and open-world exploration, the recent footage shows Crimson Desert to be a game that wants to fill its map with plenty of different things to do and gorgeous scenery to marvel at.

Crimson Desert Showcases the Vast Open World of Pywel

The star of the show in the features overview is, of course, Pywel itself. Boasting an open world larger than Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2, Crimson Desert is clearly holding nothing back when it comes to scale. However, in the footage, developer Pearl Abyss didn't want to just showcase the world's size, but how its size creates context for the goings-on within it.

Crimson Desert's Biggest Open-World Features

SEAMLESS OPEN WORLD—Pywel is a fully seamless continent designed for uninterrupted exploration.
FIVE DISTINCT REGIONS—The world is divided into five regions, each with unique stories, factions, and conflicts.
PLAYER FREEDOM FOCUS—No strict path, letting players explore and take on quests in any order.
FACTIONS AND CONFLICTS—Rival groups clash across Pywel, shaping quests and regional control.
WORLD STATE CHANGES—Liberating areas restores rightful control and makes regions safer to travel.
THE ABYSS THREAT—A mysterious realm influencing Pywel and driving the game’s central conflict.
ARTIFACT PROGRESSION—Artifacts found through exploration, quests, and combat unlock and upgrade skills.
EXPANDED TRAVERSAL OPTIONS—Horseback travel, climbing, gliding, plus later access to a mech and a dragon.

Despite the ongoing "size doesn't matter" discourse when it comes to open-world games, in the overview, Pearl Abyss repeatedly emphasizes that Pywel's scale is primarily meant to support player freedom. Along those lines, the developer says of Pywel, "With sights, secrets, and surprises along the way catching your attention and no strict path, you can pretty much go anywhere that captures your interest."

That sense of freedom it seems players will have as they explore Pywel will also be reinforced by the beauty of the open world's lanscapes and the daily lives of its inhabitants. In the overview, the developer describes Pywel as "a seamless open world filled with natural beauty," featuring "vast wilderness stretching as far as the eye can see and bustling cities inhabited by residents from all walks of life." As players stray from the beaten path, they're also likely to make unique discoveries like "ancient ruins and more."

Questing and Traversal Play a Huge Role in Crimson Desert

Questing in Crimson Desert seems to take advantage of Pywel's size as well. According to the overview, "Pywel is made up of 5 regions, each holding stories to be told and discoveries to be found," with quests seemingly revolving around the continent's factions, houses, and organizations. The developer notes that players aren't locked into a single progression route either, stating that the continent is full of activities that players are "free to take on in any order [they] choose."

Traversal plays a major role in how players get around Pywel's massive map too, with open-world mounted travel, climbing, and gliding. Later in the game, traversal expands even further, with Pearl Abyss confirming that players will gain access to "a missile-firing mech and a dragon that will allow you to soar high above the world."

Ultimately, the first features overview makes it seem like Crimson Desert's open world isn't just massive for the sake of scale but rather a core pillar of the game's progression. Pearl Abyss states that discovering fragments of the Abyss scattered across Pywel is "an important part of your journey," as they unlock fast-travel points and artifacts used to upgrade skills. The developer also describes Pywel as a world "rich with knowledge waiting to be uncovered," where new discoveries can open up new paths, abilities, and other opportunities. Now, with combat and progression systems set to be detailed in future videos, Crimson Desert still has plenty more to come for fans before it launches on March 19, 2026 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.

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