‘Crimson Desert’ DLC’s Wacky First Trailer Takes the RPG to Unexpected New Places

While Crimson Desert has been receiving a non-stop lineup of updates since its release, there’s somehow even more on the way. During today’s State of Play, Pearl Abyss showed off Crimson Desert’s first major expansion, Charting the Unknown. Much like the base game, a lot is going on, with a strange medley of disparate genres and vibes.

“Reclaim power and reach beyond—into the unknown,” the DLC’s synopsis reads. “The story of Pywel continues in Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown as Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane set out to discover their purpose and shape their futures. However, as turmoil unfolds around them, each must fight to forge a path through the trials ahead. Join them on a new adventure and discover what new possibilities await across Pywel.”

What is shown in the trailer?

The trailer opens teasing a “hidden land” beyond a crimson desert where many fell long ago, a place where witches have sensed “whispers of darkness steadily growing stronger.” Then it cuts jarringly to a city where Kliff can seemingly build a house and adjust furniture. Kliff goes on one knee and proposes to a witch lady, becomes a pirate, rides a dragon, and then dives into an ocean in scuba gear with a jetpack. We see a giant metal boat, and a guy runs on water like anime Jesus. There are various animal-themed mechs like a dragon, a squid, and a crab that shoots laser beams. The DLC drops Oct. 15, 2026. The early 20th-century scuba diving gear is a pre-order bonus.

If there’s a vague theme to the deluge of seemingly unrelated nonsense, it’s that the DLC seems to involve some sort of rift in time and space. This would explain the eclectic mixture of steampunk, galleons, medieval cities, and robots. Or it could just be Crimson Desert being its wacky self. We’ll find out for sure next month.