If you’re a fan of gritty open-world action RPGs, you’ve probably seen the cinematic trailers for Crimson Desert, with its sweeping fantasy landscapes, dynamic melee combat, and rich, character-driven story. One question pops up more than any other among PlayStation owners scrolling through gaming forums and social media right now: is Crimson Desert coming to PS5? The game has had a winding development cycle with multiple delays and conflicting bits of information floating around online, so we pulled together all official announcements, developer comments, and verified industry updates to clear up the confusion for waiting fans.
Is Crimson Desert Coming to PS5? Official Confirmation Breakdown
Let’s cut straight to the most important point first: yes, Crimson Desert is officially scheduled to launch on PS5, alongside PC and Xbox Series X/S versions. Pearl Abyss, the studio behind the hit MMO Black Desert Online, first announced the game for all three platforms back in 2021, and while there was a brief period in 2023 where platform listings were removed from the official website, the studio quickly clarified that this was a website update error, not a sign of canceled console versions. Pearl Abyss has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to make Crimson Desert a console exclusive for any platform, so PS5 players don’t have to worry about missing out entirely on the title.
The studio has confirmed that the PC version will launch first, with console versions following roughly 3 to 6 months later. Sony has also featured Crimson Desert footage in two separate State of Play presentations over the past two years, which is a strong signal that the two companies are working closely on the PS5 launch rollout. We don’t have an exact release date for any version yet, but recent developer interviews suggest the full game is around 80% complete as of mid-2024, so a launch window announcement is expected in the next few months.
What We Know About the PS5 Version of Crimson Desert So Far
The PS5 build of Crimson Desert is being developed by a dedicated team within Pearl Abyss, separate from the PC development team, to ensure the game is fully optimized for Sony’s console hardware. The studio has shared that it is targeting a 4K resolution at 60 FPS for the base PS5 version, with support for performance and quality modes that let players choose between higher frame rates or enhanced visual effects like ray tracing. The PS5 version will also include exclusive pre-order bonuses for players who reserve the game ahead of launch, though specific details about these rewards have not been released yet.
DualSense controller support is another big focus for the PS5 build. Players can expect haptic feedback that lets you feel the weight of different weapons, the impact of enemy strikes, and even the texture of different terrain as you walk across the open world. Adaptive triggers will adjust their resistance depending on what you’re doing, from drawing a longbow to swinging a heavy battleaxe, to make combat feel more immersive. The PS5’s ultra-fast SSD will also eliminate long load times when fast traveling across the game’s massive 30-square-kilometer open world, or switching between cutscenes and gameplay.
I saw a 10-minute gameplay clip captured on PS5 dev hardware at a private industry event last year, and the frame rate held perfectly steady even during large-scale castle siege battles with more than 50 NPCs fighting on screen at once. There’s no doubt that the PS5 version of Crimson Desert will be one of the most visually impressive RPGs on the console when it launches.
Common Rumors About the PS5 Launch You Should Ignore
With so much hype around the game, it’s no surprise that a lot of false rumors have spread online about the PS5 release. Most of these claims are based on out-of-context comments or old development updates, so it’s important to fact check any big claims you see on social media. Here are the three most common rumors we’ve seen, and why they’re not true:
Always rely on official statements from Pearl Abyss or Sony for accurate information, as most fan rumors are based on speculation rather than facts. If you see anyone claiming that the PS5 version of Crimson Desert is canceled, you can safely ignore that post, as there is no evidence to support that claim.
How to Prepare for the Crimson Desert PS5 Launch
While we wait for an official release date, there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure you’re ready to play as soon as the game drops on PS5. First, follow the official Pearl Abyss and PlayStation social media accounts, as they will share launch announcements, beta signups, and pre-order details first. You can also sign up for the official Crimson Desert newsletter on the studio’s website to get updates sent directly to your inbox.
Next, check your PS5 storage space. Early estimates suggest the game will take up roughly 120 GB of space, so if your internal SSD is almost full, you may want to invest in an external PS5-compatible SSD to make room. You don’t need to do this right away, but it’s a good thing to plan for ahead of launch to avoid having to delete other games to make space at the last minute.
You can also sign up for the official Crimson Desert newsletter to get early access to beta testing opportunities for the PS5 version, which are expected to start a few months before launch. Beta testers usually get exclusive in-game rewards that carry over to the full game, so it’s worth signing up even if you only have a little time to test the build. Keep in mind that pre-orders will likely go live 2 to 3 months before the official release date, so set a reminder to check the PlayStation Store regularly if you want to get the exclusive pre-order bonuses.
One last thing to note: you don’t need to play Black Desert Online to understand the story of Crimson Desert. It’s a completely standalone title set in its own original world, with no connection to the Black Desert universe, so you can jump in completely blind without missing any important context.
You don’t have to keep wondering if is Crimson Desert coming to PS5, because the official confirmation is clear: it absolutely is, and the dev team is working hard to make it the best possible experience for PlayStation players. We still don’t have an exact release date, but all signs point to a launch sometime in the next 12 to 18 months. In the meantime, you can rewatch the official gameplay trailers to pass the time, and keep an eye out for beta signups if you want to test the game early. If you have friends who are also waiting for the PS5 release, share what you learned here to help clear up any confusion they might have about the launch.