When does Crimson Desert launch in your region? It’s been a long wait for the launch of Crimson Desert. Over the past few months, we’ve seen quite a few interesting previews showing off a massive open world… and seemingly every mechanic under the sun. Whether you’re already a devoted Black Desert Online fan returning for more or you’re just eager to find out what on earth this game even is, Crimson Desert seems like it’s shaping up to be a fun and absolutely massive (albeit slightly messy) ride for action-adventure sickos.
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about Crimson Desert’s launch, including when it’ll go live in your region as well as when you can preload it.
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Crimson Desert global release times
Crimson Desert will release at 10pm UTC on Thursday 19th March, 2026 on PC and Mac, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. The game will launch simultaneously across all platforms all over the world, meaning some players will gain access on 19th March while others will have to wait until the 20th depending on their time zone.
Developer Pearl Abyss has also announced that players who have preordered the game can preload it starting 48 hours ahead of its release. That means if you’re in the UK, for example, you’ll be able to preload the game on the 17th at 10pm. It’s a pretty hefty download, so if you’re eager to jump into the game right away, we’d recommend doing so.
Find the exact Crimson Desert launch time in your region below:
- US West: 19th March at 3pm (PT)
- US East: 19th March at 6pm (ET)
- UK: 19th March at 10pm (GMT)
- Europe: 19th March at 11pm (CET)
- Japan: 20th March at 7am (JST)
- Australia: 20th March at 9am (AEDT)
- New Zealand: 20th March at 11am (NZDT)
We’ve been waiting for Crimson Desert for a long time since the massive open-world RPG was announced way back in 2019 (which, apparently, is a decision that the game’s marketing team now regrets). Luckily, it’s staying free of microtransactions despite predecessor Black Desert Online’s apparent affinity for them.
Can’t wait to start exploring the world of Pywel? Check out the game’s system requirements to make sure your PC can handle it. Or, if you want to live vicariously through the RPS team before the game’s launch, check out our 2025 preview of the game.