In a recent interview, Pearl Abyss suggested its game will be extensive, meaning it will take more than a day or two to finish.
After the first video in a series meant to showcase the game’s mechanics, Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss also published an interview discussing the game’s length. PR Director Will Powers refused to give a specific hour count, arguing that it would only spark negativity between players with very different time constraints. What he did emphasize is that the main campaign represents only a very small slice of everything available in Crimson Desert, and that there is plenty to do even after finishing the story.
Powers added that he personally spent roughly 50 hours on side activities alone, such as crafting, which should give a sense of scale. In his view, one of Crimson Desert‘s biggest strengths is flexibility: you can decide what to focus on in each session based on the time you have, and even the smallest activities keep a steady sense of progression and reward.
“Players devour games in different ways. Some barrel through the main campaign immediately, but providing a specific number is difficult. If I give a large number, parents with limited time may feel discouraged or intimidated by the game. Conversely, students with more free time might find the same number too small. No matter what number I provide, it feels like a losing proposition. I have consistently refused to provide a specific number, but I can say the game is massive. I appreciate its flexibility – you can choose what to do in each session based on your available time. There is a constant sense of progression and reward, even in the smallest activities.
Last week, I played the game for 50 hours, focusing primarily on side content. I didn’t even fish – I mined, upgraded weapons, and tested mechanics. Since the difficulty of all enemies is set, you can overcome challenges through sheer willpower if you choose to grind. This is an intentional design choice. We never want players to feel that they must simply “get good” to proceed. With enough time invested, you can beat everything. Alternatively, an incredibly skilled player could easily complete the game. The game should not prevent progression simply because a player does not understand a specific mechanic.
It’s impossible to provide a definitive answer for open-world games because players rarely follow only the critical path. However, the main campaign represents only a small percentage of the overall content. For me, the game truly expanded after the credits rolled. I realized that I had barely scratched the surface of certain factions and their quest lines. Even though I work on the game and am aware of the available content, I realized after finishing the story that I had missed entire areas because I was too focused on the main path. There is a vast amount of content to return to, including deep customization options and systems that require investment of time. The developers created an open world that encourages exploration. Their strength lies in creating emerging, immersive worlds where players can spend thousands of hours,” Powers said.
Crimson Desert launches on March 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Source: WCCFTech
