Crimson Desert’s release is right around the corner. With a global launch on all platforms, find out exactly when it happens in your time zone!
Global Launch Times
Crimson Desert will not have early access. Once it’s out, everyone will have access to it. Pre-loading will be available two days before launch. And the launch is global, for all platforms where the game is available. This includes Steam, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox.
We know that having to figure out your time based on a different time zone is annoying, so here’s a table with launch times for multiple regions.
| Region | City | Release Time | Pre-Load Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | New York City | March 19, 6 PM EDT | March 17, 6 PM EDT |
| North America | Los Angeles | March 19, 6 PM PDT | March 17, 6 PM PDT |
| North America | Mexico City | March 19, 4 PM CST | March 17, 4 PM CST |
| South America | Sao Paulo | March 19, 7 PM BRT | March 17, 7 PM BRT |
| Europe | London | March 19, 10 PM GMT | March 17, 10 PM GMT |
| Europe | Berlin | March 19, 11 PM CET | March 17, 11 PM CET |
| Europe | Paris | March 19, 11 PM CET | March 17, 11 PM CET |
| Africa | Johannesburg | March 20, 12 AM SAST | March 18, 12 AM SAST |
| Asia | Mumbai | March 20, 3:30 AM IST | March 18, 3:30 AM IST |
| Asia | Beijing | March 20, 6 AM CST | March 18, 6 AM CST |
| Asia | Tokyo | March 20, 7 AM JST | March 18, 7 AM JST |
| Asia | Seoul | March 20, 7 AM KST | March 18, 7 AM KST |
| Oceania | Sydney | March 20, 9 AM AEDT | March 18, 9 AM AEDT |
| Oceania | Auckland | March 20, 11 AM NZDT | March 18, 11 AM NZDT |
The game will be around 150 GB in size, so if your connection is on the slower side and you have pre-ordered it, you can begin your download early and start flying (well, not literally, you won’t unlock the dragon right away) on 19th when it launches.
For the US cities, the table lists PDT and EDT. In 2026, the US, Canada, and parts of Mexico start Daylight Saving Time (DST) on March 8. However, the UK and Europe don’t switch until March 29. which is after the game’s launch.
How to prepare for Crimson Desert
Many people (including myself) are very excited about Crimson Desert. From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like we’re going to have lots of activities to do over dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.
But why is this game so exciting when it’s not the prequel/sequel of a massive AAA title? Well, there are multiple reasons to be excited about.
Like the fact that we’ll be able to explore the massive open world vertically, PC requirements are friendly-enough for a 2026 game, there will be zero microtransactions, and deep character customization among other things.
Additionally, it has multiple editions that come with different cosmetic perks depending on which one you buy.
The best way to prepare for this game, is to make sure you have enough free time to play through it. When Will Powers, marketing director, was roaming around doing interviews on YouTube, he kept mentioning that the game truly starts to shine when you reach the endgame. You will accumulate a ton of new abilities and gear during your journey.
Crimson Desert also dropped a flashy Launch Trailer today that features all three playable characters and showcases a lot of new animations, gameplay elements, and… a Jetpack!
Crimson Desert’s Launch Trailer showcases new animations and gameplay featuring all 3 playable charactersFAQ
The game releases on globally simultaneously on March 19th at 22:00 GMT (6 PM EDT).
PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and Mac. It will not release on PS4, Xbox One, or Switch.
According to the official System Requirements, it is around 150 GB. An SSD is strongly recommended.
Pre-Load will be available for those who pre-ordered the game, starting exactly two days before the launch on all platforms.
Pearl Abyss have not officially confirmed this, but indicated around 50-60 hours for the main story and around 80-100 for a completionst run.
The game evolved from a planned Black Desert Online prequel into a standalone IP with no multiplayer. The developers have mentioned a potential post-launch multiplayer mode
Pearl Abyss has confirmed the game has no microtransactions, no difficulty settings, and no leveling system.
Not at launch. Neither Pearl Abyss nor Microsoft have announced a Game Pass deal. The Standard Edition is priced at $69.99. The game does support Xbox Play Anywhere, so a purchase within the Xbox ecosystem also works on PC.
No. It was originally planned as an MMO, prequel to Black Desert, but has evolved into a fully standalone IP in a separate universe. No prior knowledge of Black desert Online is needed.
