Prepare for a formidable challenge! The highly anticipated PS5 open-world title, Crimson Desert, is shaping up to be a tough nut to crack, with no difficulty options planned at launch.
While there are still many unanswered questions surrounding this ambitious game from developer Pearl Abyss, they are starting to shed light on some of the key aspects. Recently, Will Powers, the marketing and PR director, appeared on the Dropped Frames podcast to discuss these finer points. He reiterated that Crimson Desert isn't a 'Soulslike' game, a clarification the studio has made multiple times. But here's where it gets controversial... does that mean it's easy? Absolutely not!
Powers described the game's open-world design as being akin to Elden Ring, but crucially, without the punishing difficulty that defines that genre. The core idea is that players will be encouraged to strategically retreat from overwhelming foes and explore other areas. This allows you to return later, better equipped and more experienced, to face the challenge. "You can just leave, you can do something else, you can upgrade your weapon, you can do side questing, you can find different things in order to make that fight easier for you," Powers explained. He believes this approach offers a vital layer of accessibility, ensuring players never feel completely stuck, which is especially important in a single-player experience.
Naturally, this leads to a burning question: will Crimson Desert offer adjustable difficulty settings? Apparently, the answer is no, not at launch. A representative from Pearl Abyss directly stated that "At the moment, Crimson Desert does not offer distinct difficulty modes."
And this is the part most people miss... we're left to wonder just how challenging Crimson Desert will truly be. Everything we've seen suggests a deep and impressive gameplay experience, and we sincerely hope the game does an excellent job of guiding players into its mechanics without overwhelming them.
So, what do you think? Are you excited for Crimson Desert? Are you ready for a game that truly tests your skills? Does the lack of difficulty options worry you, or do you see it as a bold design choice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
