Astoundingly Ambitious PS5 RPG Crimson Desert Looks Like It’ll Ease the Wait for The Witcher 4

A sprawling 13-minute gameplay reel for Crimson Desert has surfaced in the wake of the title’s recent slip to 2026.

Although the news of yet another delay stings, this brand-new PS5 showcase should lessen the blow. It’s apparent that Korean studio Pearl Abyss is whipping up something remarkable.

To clarify, this is not an MMO—don’t mix it up with Black Desert, as so many tend to. It’s a traditional, open-world single-player RPG, and it looks stunning.

The footage is pulled from a demo that attendees can go hands-on with next week at Gamescom in Cologne and later at PAX West.

For anyone needing story background, here’s the setup:

“Prior to this moment, the lead character—Greymane Kliff—and his clan are ambushed by rivals, the Drunken Black Bears. After a brutal clash, Kliff and his comrades are scattered. Alone, he searches the continent of Pywel for survivors, eventually learning that the trusted Oongka has been spotted near Calphade.”

The montage blends traversal, world exploration, and explosive, fist-pounding combat. It wraps with a face-off against Cassius Morten that showcases the hero’s flexibility and flair.

Candidly, we’re blown away. The setting feels vibrant and teeming with life, thanks to roaming NPCs everywhere, and the layered objectives—including a stage where you bring down cannon fire on a target—are a delight.

Should Pearl Abyss sustain this level of polish throughout an entire solo campaign, it may very well become one of the defining experiences of the generation.

At minimum, it’s set to soften the long haul until The Witcher 4.