There are so many incredible games launching in 2025, from epicRPGsto new entries in iconic franchises. Many of these games have been highly anticipated for quite some time, so fans are, rather understandably, incredibly excited. I, for one, couldn’t wait forDeath Stranding 2and would have been devastated had it been delayed. However, some have been quite unlucky this year, with major releases likeGrand Theft Auto 6being delayed yet again into 2026 and beyond.
It seems that this is the case with one of2025’s most-anticipated RPGs, a game with so many ambitious ideas that many doubted it even existed when it was first revealed. Unfortunately, the problem with delaying this RPG in particular into 2026 is thatit now faces competition it otherwise never would have had, which could end up being absolutely fatal to its chances of success. That is, of course, unless it manages to pull off the impossible.
Crimson Desert Has Been Delayed Until 2026
It Has Been Delayed By One Quarter
Pearl Abyss, the developer ofCrimson Desert,announced during a Q2 2025 earnings call that it is delaying the game until Q1 2026. This is a hugely disappointing announcement, but a completely understandable one. Frankly, as much as I am completely obsessed withCrimson Desert, from the variousridiculously impressive gameplay trailersand previews we’ve seen, it is clear that it is an overwhelmingly ambitious game that will take a lot to make, much likeGrand Theft Auto 6.
In the earnings call, Pearl Abyss explained thatCrimson Desert"has been unavoidably delayed by one quarter" due to “longer than expected timelines arising from schedule coordination and collaborations with multiple partners for offline distribution, voice-overs, console certification, and other launch preparations.” Essentially,Pearl Abyss is still doing voice-over work and attempting to get the game ready for its console release. Delays are unavoidable, and often advisable, especially if developers want to avoid a similar fate toCyberpunk 2077.
However, the delay isn’t just disappointing because it means the wait is made even longer. Rather,Crimson Deserthad a chance to become a2025 GOTY contenderand maybe even steal the award from underClair Obscur: Expedition 33’snose. However,the delay jeopardizes its chances of winning said award, specifically because it is now competing against what is undoubtedly going to be the biggest game in over a decade:Grand Theft Auto 6.
Crimson Desert Is Now Competing Against GTA 6
GTA 6 Was Delayed To 2026 Earlier This Year
Almost everyone is expectingGrand Theft Auto 6to be the biggest game of the year it launches in. In fact,developers are worried aboutGTA 6, largely out of fear that its guaranteed success will overshadow their comparatively smaller releases.No game can generate the same level of hype asGTA 6, even if it had a significantly higher marketing budget. Even if you were to release your game months beforeGTA 6, the general buzz around it is enough to drown out certain titles.
Crimson Desert’srelative lack of marketing, vague release dates, and numerous delays have almost certainly muddied its reputation a bit. That’s not to say that people dislike it, but rather thatit doesn’t have the draw it should have for such a ridiculously ambitious fantasy RPG coming from a critically acclaimed studio. This is in direct contrast withGTA 6, which, even despiteRockstar’s odd approach to marketing, remains forever in the zeitgeist.
Simply put,Crimson Desertneeds to put in significantly more work to market itself to players thanGTA 6, and it isn’t. That wouldn’t have been an issue had it been released in 2025 alongside other games of its size and apparent marketing budget. However, this delay into Q1 2026 means it has fiercer competition that could overwhelm it. Of course, whileGTA 6will always be more financially successful thanCrimson Desert, that doesn’t mean the latter can’t come out on top as the better experience.
Crimson Desert Could Still Win
It Looks Incredibly Ambitious
As much asCrimson Desert’sdelay into 2026 is bad news for its chances of success, it also poses a problem forGrand Theft Auto 6. So far,GTA 6doesn’t have much competition when it comes to expansive open-world games.Crimson Desertabsolutely fills in that gap, andits skewing toward fantasy means that it targets the large number of players who potentially aren’t interested inGTA 6’smore grounded, realistic world.
Of course,I highly doubtCrimson Desert’score audience or player count at launch will trump that ofGTA 6.However, its unique slant, scale, ambition, and thorough covering of every popular open world trope of the past decade does mean - and may I add, rather refreshingly - thatGTA 6 has competitionin 2026. As much as I appreciate and understand the excitement aroundGrand Theft Auto 6, I can’t help but feel like its default level of hype facilitates pouring more effort into highlighting the games that will undoubtedly be pushed to the wayside.
Crimson Desertis not a small game, and had it been released in 2025, it may have been considered on a similar scale asBaldur’s Gate 3in terms of ambition and, I suspect, success. However, that is no longer the case, and I hope Pearl Abyss adapts to address that fact. I’m still incredibly excited forCrimson Desert, and I believe that it will be 2026’s bestRPG, but I still fear, deep down, that the sheer size ofGTA 6and its loyal fans will drown out what could be one of the best games ever made.
