If you’ve been keeping up with upcoming open world RPGs, you’ve almost certainly seen teasers for Crimson Desert, the new title from Black Desert Online developer Pearl Abyss. Between the stunning graphics, gritty combat, and sweeping fantasy world, it’s been on most RPG fans’ wishlists for years. But one question comes up every time the game is mentioned: is crimson desert single player or multiplayer? For a long time, devs kept details close to their chest, but we now have full confirmed information about both play modes, so you can plan your playthrough long before launch day.
Crimson Desert Single Player or Multiplayer: Official Confirmed Modes
Short answer: it’s both. If you’ve been scouring forums asking if crimson desert single player or multiplayer is the main focus, you can rest easy that solo play is the core of the experience. Pearl Abyss initially designed Crimson Desert as a primarily single player narrative experience, but added optional multiplayer components after consistent fan requests for co-op and PvP features.
You don’t have to play with other people to experience the full main story, and you won’t miss any core narrative content if you skip multiplayer entirely. All multiplayer features are entirely optional, which is a huge win for players who prefer to experience new RPGs solo without forced online interactions. I was personally worried early on that the team would pivot to make it a full MMO like Black Desert Online, but devs have repeatedly confirmed that single player is the core focus of the game.
What to Expect From Crimson Desert’s Single Player Mode
The single player campaign follows the story of Macduff, a mercenary leader navigating the war-torn continent of Pywel as he tries to protect his crew and uncover the truth behind a mysterious curse spreading across the land. The story is written to be dark, mature, and character-driven, with branching choices that impact the fate of supporting characters and the world around you. Even small decisions, like choosing to help a village or take a mercenary job for a corrupt lord, will change how NPCs interact with you and what side content you can access later in the game.
The single player campaign runs roughly 30 to 40 hours for a standard playthrough, and that number jumps to 60+ hours if you complete all side quests, collect all unique gear, and explore every corner of the open world. Unlike many modern online-focused RPGs, Crimson Desert’s single player mode has no always-online requirement, so you can play completely offline if you have spotty internet or just want to avoid any potential server issues. You’ll also have full access to all crafting, hunting, and base building features in single player, so you don’t have to jump into multiplayer to use any of the game’s core non-combat mechanics. This means even if you have zero interest in the online features, you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything related to the core question of crimson desert single player or multiplayer.
Crimson Desert Multiplayer: Features and Playable Modes
If you do want to play with other people, the game’s multiplayer offerings are built to add replay value without interfering with the single player experience. It’s important to note that this is not a full MMO, so you won’t run into hundreds of other players wandering the open world as you play through the main story. Multiplayer is only accessible when you choose to enter it, so you won’t get randomly pulled into PvP fights or co-op requests while you’re working through story missions. Confirmed multiplayer modes as of latest dev updates include:
Multiplayer progression is separate from single player progression, so any gear you earn or losses you take in multiplayer won’t impact your solo save file at all. Cross-platform multiplayer is confirmed for all launch platforms, so you can team up with or fight against friends no matter if they’re playing on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X/S. Best of all, there’s no subscription required to access multiplayer features, which is a nice change from the pay-to-play model many similar games use these days.
Which Playstyle Is Right For You?
Now that you know what both modes offer, you might be wondering if you should stick to solo, jump into multiplayer, or try both. If you’re the type of player who prioritizes story above all else, likes to take your time exploring every side quest and hidden area, or hates dealing with toxic random players, the single player mode is more than enough to justify the price of admission. You’ll get a full, polished RPG experience with no pressure to interact with anyone else if you don’t want to.
If you usually play RPGs with friends, love tackling endgame boss fights and dungeons with a team, or enjoy casual PvP matches to break up story gameplay, you’ll get a ton of extra value out of the multiplayer modes. The exclusive loot and cosmetics are also a nice bonus for completionists who want to collect every item in the game. The best part is you don’t have to pick one forever. You can switch between single player and multiplayer whenever you want, so you can beat the entire story solo, then team up with friends to run co-op dungeons for rare gear whenever you feel like it.
A quick tip for new players: start with single player first to get used to the game’s unique combo-based combat system and open world mechanics, so you don’t feel overwhelmed when you jump into multiplayer for the first time. The combat is much faster and more strategic than many other open world RPGs, so taking time to master it solo will make multiplayer runs much smoother for you and your team.
At the end of the day, you don’t have to choose between crimson desert single player or multiplayer, because the game is built to cater to both playstyles seamlessly. Pearl Abyss has done a great job balancing the core single player narrative that was first promised with the optional multiplayer features that many fans asked for, so there’s something for every type of RPG player to enjoy. I’m personally planning to play through the entire main story solo first to take in all the narrative beats, then team up with my regular gaming group to take on the hardest world bosses and collect all the exclusive co-op loot. No matter how you plan to play, Crimson Desert is shaping up to be one of the most exciting RPG releases in recent years.