Crimson Desert will have a larger map than RDR2

Crimson Desert, the upcoming action‑role‑playing game (RPG) developed by Pearl Abyss, has revealed new details about its open world, gameplay, and interaction systems. With just a few months until its scheduled March 2026 release, the company has confirmed that the game will feature a large‑scale map, a variety of mounts, and exploration and management mechanics.

Open World and Map Size

Scope and Comparison With Other Titles
Pearl Abyss has stated that the world of Crimson Desert, set on the fictional continent of Pywel, will be larger than the map in Red Dead Redemption 2 and at least twice the size of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in terms of playable area.

To contextualize these figures:

• Skyrim: approximately 37 km²
• Red Dead Redemption 2: more than 75 km²
• Crimson Desert: estimated at more than 80 km², placing it among the most expansive open worlds in the genre.

The studio has emphasized that its goal is not just to offer a large space, but one that is “incredibly interactive”, with activities, side quests, and varied environments to explore.

Exploration Systems and Mounts

Variety of Mounts
Among the confirmed additions are fantastic mounts that players will be able to use to traverse the map:

• Ground: bears and raptors
• Flying: dragons
• Advanced vehicles: mechas

These mounts will influence both exploration and combat, allowing rapid movement across wide areas or difficult terrain, such as the sky islands, a vertical element that adds another layer of exploration.

Gameplay Mechanics and Activities

Vertical Exploration and Interactive World
The map is not limited to a horizontal plane. It will include floating islands and aerial zones that encourage exploration across different levels, using special abilities or flying mounts to access them.

Management and Survival Actions
Players will be able to:

• Acquire houses or shelters
• Prepare food through cooking
• Participate in activities such as collecting bounties on enemies, incorporating administration and progression outside the main missions.

Gameplay Experience and Narrative Focus

Single‑Player Focus
Crimson Desert is primarily designed as a single‑player experience, focused on narrative and freedom of exploration within its open world. All progression, activities, and story development are experienced individually.

Crimson Desert emerges as an ambitious entry in the open‑world genre:

• Larger map than titles like RDR2 and Skyrim
• Fantastic mounts: dragons, bears, raptors, and mechas
• Vertical exploration: floating islands and aerial zones
• Interaction and management systems: houses, cooking, enemy bounties
• Single‑player experience

The game combines traditional RPG elements with innovations in exploration and interaction systems, and its release is scheduled for March 19, 2026.