If you’ve been scrolling through RPG news for the past few years, you’ve almost certainly seen snippets of Crimson Desert’s jaw-dropping open world, gritty combat, and sprawling fantasy lore. Pearl Abyss’s long-awaited follow-up to Black Desert Online has built up massive hype, and players are already scrambling to find details on crimson desert preorder options before the official launch drops. I’ve spent weeks digging through official announcements, developer streams, and community leaks to pull together everything you need to make a smart call before you hand over your cash. There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about exclusive bonuses and edition differences, so we’ll cut through the noise to break down what’s actually worth paying for.
What Do You Get With a Crimson Desert Preorder?
First off, let’s cover the universal bonuses you get no matter which edition you preorder, as long as you buy before launch day. Pearl Abyss has confirmed these bonuses will never be available for separate purchase later, so if you care about limited cosmetics or quality of life boosts at launch, these are worth noting. All crimson desert preorder purchases, regardless of edition, come with the following core perks:
That means you don’t have to shell out for the most expensive edition to get the most sought-after limited perks. A lot of players assume they need to buy the deluxe or collector’s edition to get preorder bonuses, but that’s not the case here. The only difference between editions is extra content, not the core preorder perks we listed above. You won’t miss out on the limited, never-to-be-released items if you stick to the cheapest preorder option.
Differences Between Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions
Now let’s break down the three available editions, so you can pick the one that fits your budget and playstyle. The standard edition is the base game only, plus the universal preorder bonuses we covered earlier, and it’s priced at $59.99 for console and $49.99 for PC. It’s the best pick for casual players who just want to play the main story and don’t care about extra cosmetic or endgame content. If you’re planning to grab a crimson desert preorder for occasional weekend play, this edition is more than enough.
The deluxe edition costs $79.99 across all platforms, and it adds a handful of extra perks on top of the base game and preorder bonuses. You get an additional two character skin sets, a premium housing plot in the starting city, 30 days of premium account access instead of 7, and early access to the game 3 days before official launch. If you plan to sink dozens of hours into the game right away, the early access and extra premium time alone make this worth the extra $20 for many players. It’s also a solid pick if you enjoy customizing your character and housing right from the start.
The collector’s edition is the priciest option at $149.99, and it’s targeted at super fans of the franchise. It includes all the deluxe edition content, plus a physical statue of the main protagonist, a hardcover art book, the official game soundtrack, and an exclusive in-game pet that gives you passive crafting boosts. Just note that the physical items are only available while supplies last, so if you have your eye on the statue, you won’t want to wait too long to order if you go this route. Most players won’t need this edition though, as the extra perks are mostly cosmetic or physical collectibles with no impact on gameplay.
Is Preordering Crimson Desert Worth It for You?
We get this question a lot, and the answer really depends on your personal play habits and how hyped you are for the game. If you’ve followed Crimson Desert’s development for years, played Black Desert Online for hundreds of hours, and already know you want to play the game as soon as it comes out, preordering is a no-brainer. The exclusive bonuses won’t be available later, and you get extra perks that make the early game grind a lot smoother. When you’re weighing up a crimson desert preorder, always prioritize your own budget and playstyle over hype from online communities.
But if you’re on the fence, there are a few good reasons to wait instead of preordering. First, we haven’t seen full, unfiltered gameplay reviews from critics yet, so there’s always a risk that the final game doesn’t live up to the hype. We’ve seen plenty of highly anticipated RPGs launch with bugs, missing content, or gameplay that doesn’t match what was shown in trailers, so waiting a week after launch to read reviews can save you from wasting your money on a game you don’t enjoy. You’ll also get to see how the game runs on your specific platform, which is a big plus for PC players with mid-tier hardware.
Another thing to consider is that launch sales are pretty common for new games, even big AAA titles, 2-3 months after release. If you don’t care about the limited preorder bonuses or playing right at launch, you can probably save 20-30% by waiting for a sale instead of preordering. That said, the preorder-only cosmetics and title will be gone forever once launch day hits, so you have to weigh how much those limited items matter to you. For a lot of players, bragging rights for the Trailblazer title are worth the cost of preordering alone.
Common Preorder Pitfalls to Avoid
Even if you decide preordering is right for you, there are a few mistakes a lot of players make when locking in their copy that you’ll want to steer clear of. First, make sure you’re buying from an official retailer or the game’s official store page. There are a lot of third-party sellers listing fake preorder codes for cheap on unofficial marketplaces, and you could end up losing your money and not getting a game code at all. If you’re buying a crimson desert preorder as a gift for a friend, make sure you get the right platform version for their console or PC to avoid headaches later.
Second, double check which platform you’re buying for. A lot of players accidentally preorder the PC version when they meant to get the PlayStation or Xbox version, and most retailers don’t offer refunds for digital preorders once you’ve claimed the code. If you’re buying a physical copy, make sure you check the shipping timeline too, so you don’t end up waiting a week after launch to get your copy even if you paid for early access. Some retailers don’t guarantee release day delivery for preorders placed less than a week before launch, so plan accordingly if you want your physical copy on day one.
Finally, don’t fall for pressure tactics from retailers that claim preorders are selling out in minutes. While the collector’s edition physical copies will sell out eventually, standard and digital deluxe editions will be available to preorder right up until launch day. You don’t have to rush your purchase the second preorders go live, unless you’re dead set on getting the physical collector’s edition before it’s gone. Take a day or two to compare prices across retailers, as some offer extra store-specific perks like gift cards or extra in-game items for preordering through their platform.
At the end of the day, whether you pull the trigger on a crimson desert preorder comes down to how much you value limited exclusive content and early access to one of the most anticipated RPGs of the decade. If you’re already hyped and know you’ll play the game for dozens of hours, the preorder bonuses more than justify the cost, especially if you stick to the standard or deluxe edition. If you’re unsure, wait for launch reviews to come in before you spend your money. Either way, Crimson Desert is shaping up to be one of the most exciting open world releases in years, so you won’t have to wait much longer to see if it lives up to the hype.