Crimson Desert has sat at the top of most anticipated RPG lists for years, thanks to Pearl Abyss’ track record of building immersive, long-lasting open worlds for players to explore. The dark fantasy title promises seamless, skill-based combat, a dynamic story that shifts based on your choices, and a massive open world filled with hidden secrets and dangerous foes. If you’ve been following development updates closely, you’re probably already eager to pre order Crimson Desert to lock in early access and exclusive perks before the game drops. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make a smart purchase, no matter your budget or play style.
What Bonuses Do You Get When You Pre Order Crimson Desert?
Pearl Abyss has rolled out a consistent set of pre-order perks across all official platforms, with a few retailer-exclusive extras depending on where you buy your copy. Pre-ordering any edition of the game gets you 72 hours of early access before the official global launch, which is a huge advantage if you want to claim rare open-world spawns, get a head start on crafting professions, or secure a spot in a top guild before servers fill up. You’ll also get an exclusive desert wolf mount that moves 15% faster than default starting mounts, plus a stack of rare healing and crafting materials to cut down on early-game grind.
Upgrading to higher editions adds even more perks. Digital deluxe editions add an exclusive armor set for your main character and a full digital soundtrack composed by the award-winning team that worked on Black Desert Online’s iconic score. Physical collector’s editions throw in a 10-inch statuette of the game’s protagonist, a hardcover art book with concept art from the game’s 7-year development cycle, and a physical map of the war-torn world of Pywel. Some platform-specific bonuses include a rare combat pet for console players and an extra character slot for PC players, so it’s worth checking what your preferred store offers before you check out.
Which Crimson Desert Pre Order Edition Is Right For You?
It’s easy to get tempted by flashy extra perks, but most players don’t need to splurge on the most expensive edition to get a great experience. We broke down the pros and cons of each option to help you pick the right one for your needs and budget:
- Standard Edition: Best for casual players who only want the base game, no extra frills. It comes with all core pre-order bonuses and costs $59.99 for both PC and console versions. You won’t get the deluxe armor set or physical goods, but you’ll still get all early access and core pre-order perks.
- Digital Deluxe Edition: Ideal for players who plan to sink 100+ hours into the game. The exclusive armor set gives a small but noticeable stat boost in the first 20 hours of gameplay, and the extra crafting materials cut down on early grind significantly. It costs $89.99, and you can upgrade to this edition from the standard edition later if you change your mind.
- Physical Collector's Edition: Only worth it for diehard Crimson Desert fans or physical game collectors. The limited-run physical goods are high quality, but the $149.99 price tag is far too high for most players who only care about in-game content. Stock is also extremely limited, so you’ll have to move fast if you want to grab one.
If you’re on the fence about whether you’ll love the game long-term, stick to the standard edition first. You won’t lose out on early access, and you can always pay the difference to upgrade to the deluxe edition later if you end up loving the core gameplay. There’s no pressure to splurge on extra content you might never use.
Common Pre Order Mistakes to Avoid
Pre-ordering highly anticipated games can come with hidden pitfalls, especially when scammers and unvetted sellers flood the market with fake listings and too-good-to-be-true discounts. First, never pre order from random third-party sellers on social media or unvetted marketplace sites, even if they offer 50% off or extra exclusive bonuses. Most of these listings are for stolen game keys that get revoked a few days after launch, leaving you out of pocket with no way to get a refund. Comparing bonus options across half a dozen different retailers can also get overwhelming fast, and it’s easy to make a impulsive purchase you’ll regret later when you’re burnt out on scrolling. If you're someone who gets overwhelmed comparing dozens of bonus options across platforms, you can step away for 10 minutes and play a quick, low-stakes game to reset your focus — many casual players we know take quick breaks with INDRummy when they need to clear their head before making a purchase decision.
Once you’re back to comparing listings, always check the refund policy of the platform you're buying from before you complete your purchase. Some platforms only offer full refunds for pre-orders up to 7 days before launch, so if you change your mind closer to release after seeing negative early previews, you might be stuck with a copy you don’t want. Don’t pay for extra content you won’t use either. If you never care about in-game cosmetics or soundtracks, the deluxe edition’s extra perks are a waste of $30 that you could put toward future DLC instead.
What to Do After You Pre Order Crimson Desert
Once you’ve locked in your pre-order, there are a few simple steps you can take to make launch day as smooth as possible. Sign up for the official Crimson Desert newsletter first to get updates on pre-load dates, server launch times, and last-minute bonus drops that aren’t advertised publicly. Pearl Abyss often sends out extra in-game items to newsletter subscribers in the week leading up to launch, so it’s well worth the 30 seconds it takes to sign up.
You can also join the official Crimson Desert Discord server to connect with other players, find a guild to join ahead of launch, and get tips from play testers who have tried early builds of the game. If you’re playing on PC, take a minute to check the official system requirements to make sure your rig can run the game smoothly — the title takes up around 120 GB of storage space, so you might need to delete a few old games to make room for pre-load a few days before launch. You can also start brainstorming what type of build you want to play first, to cut down on character creation time when you first boot up the game.
At the end of the day, whether you decide to pre order Crimson Desert comes down to how excited you are for the game and what type of content you care about. If you’ve been following the game’s development for years and know you want to play as soon as possible, pre-ordering is a great way to get extra perks and early access. If you’re on the fence, you can always wait for launch reviews to come out before buying, but you will miss out on the exclusive pre-order bonuses if you do. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re buying from a trusted seller and only paying for content you’ll actually use, so you can enjoy the game stress-free when it launches.