If you’re a fan of sprawling open-world RPGs and have been following Pearl Abyss’s upcoming Crimson Desert for months, you’ve almost certainly found yourself searching for updates on crimson desert xbox game pass availability. The game, which builds on the studio’s experience with Black Desert Online, promises a gritty fantasy world, fast-paced action combat, and a single-player campaign paired with massive multiplayer features. Xbox Game Pass subscribers are always eager to know if big new releases will hit the service day one, to skip paying full price for titles they might only play for a few weeks. It’s one of the most common questions I see popping up on Xbox gaming forums and social media feeds every time new Crimson Desert gameplay drops.
Is Crimson Desert on Xbox Game Pass Right Now?
For now, there’s no official confirmation of crimson desert xbox game pass inclusion from either Pearl Abyss or Xbox, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table. For context, Black Desert launched on Xbox in 2019, and was added to Xbox Game Pass just 6 months later. It’s remained a staple of the library ever since, with regular updates and expansion packs available for subscribers to access at no extra cost. That long-standing working relationship between Pearl Abyss and Xbox is the biggest indicator that Game Pass access is very likely, even if we don’t have a firm announcement yet. I’ve reached out to both companies for comment in the past, and neither has denied that discussions around Game Pass access are ongoing. There are no current plans to remove Crimson Desert from Xbox launch lineups, even if Game Pass details are still under wraps.
What to Expect If Crimson Desert Joins Xbox Game Pass
One of the biggest perks of crimson desert xbox game pass access is that you won’t have to shell out the full $69.99 launch price to play on day one. All you’ll need is an active Game Pass Core or Ultimate subscription, and you can download the full standard edition of the game straight to your Xbox Series X/S as soon as it goes live. Game Pass subscribers usually get 10% off any DLC or premium upgrades for games in the library, so you'll save extra if you want to pick up the deluxe edition content later. Another great benefit of access via the service is that you can play the game across multiple devices if you have an Ultimate subscription, including your phone, laptop, or supported smart TV via cloud gaming.
But there are a few caveats to keep in mind. If you play via Game Pass, you won’t own the game outright, so if it ever leaves the library in the future, you’ll lose access unless you purchase it separately. The good news is that Xbox almost always gives subscribers at least 2 weeks notice before a game leaves the service, and you’ll get a 20% discount if you choose to buy it during that window. You also won’t get any deluxe edition content as part of the standard Game Pass access, so if you want the bonus story missions, exclusive mounts, and armor sets that come with the premium edition, you’ll have to purchase that upgrade separately.
Steps to Prepare for Crimson Desert Launch on Xbox
If you’re holding off on pre-ordering specifically until you get confirmed crimson desert xbox game pass news, these simple steps will ensure you’re ready to jump into the game the second it’s available. I’ve covered dozens of big RPG launches over the years, and these small prep tasks save you hours of frustration on launch day, no matter how you plan to play the game.
For anyone with Game Pass Ultimate, you can also queue up the pre-load remotely via the Xbox app on your phone, so the game is fully downloaded and ready to go by the time you get home from work or school on launch day. You don't need to pre-order the game to pre-load it, so there's zero risk to downloading it early while you wait for Game Pass news. I’ve had so many friends miss out on hour-one access because they forgot to clear space for a big game file, so don’t skip that first step.
Other Ways to Play Crimson Desert on Xbox If It's Not on Game Pass
If crimson desert xbox game pass availability doesn’t pan out for launch day, you still have plenty of affordable options to play the game on your Xbox Series X/S without breaking the bank. The most obvious is buying the standard or deluxe edition directly from the Xbox Store, and pre-orders usually come with exclusive armor sets, 72 hours of early access before official launch, and a chunk of bonus in-game currency to spend on gear and items early on. Xbox often runs launch week sales for third-party partner titles, so you might be able to get 15 to 20% off if you wait a week after launch instead of buying day one.
You can also pick up a physical copy from most major game retailers, which often comes with exclusive pre-order bonuses that you can’t get digitally, like art prints or steelbook cases. Physical copies of Crimson Desert will also work with Xbox's Smart Delivery feature, so you get the optimized version for your console no matter which edition you buy. If you’ve been earning Microsoft Reward points through searches, game play, or other Microsoft ecosystem activities, you can redeem those points for Xbox gift cards to cover part or all of the purchase cost too. So if Game Pass access doesn’t happen at launch, don’t panic. I’ve seen plenty of big third-party titles skip day one Game Pass but get added 3 to 6 months later, once initial launch sales have slowed down. If you’re willing to wait a few months, you’ll almost certainly be able to play it via your subscription eventually, even if you can’t get it on day one.
At the end of the day, keeping an eye out for official announcements about crimson desert xbox game pass inclusion is the best way to plan for launch. All signs point to it being a very likely addition to the library, either at launch or shortly after, but there’s no harm in having a backup plan if you want to play on day one. I’ll be updating this post as soon as official news drops, so check back regularly for the latest updates before the game’s official launch date.