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Although everyone says it's a soulslike, the director of this highly anticipated medieval-themed game says it's something completely different

It's more of an RPG with open world elements

Although everyone says it's a soulslike, the director of this highly anticipated medieval-themed game says it's something completely different

Jesús Bosque

  • February 18, 2026
  • Updated: February 19, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Although everyone says it's a soulslike, the director of this highly anticipated medieval-themed game says it's something completely different

In March, the attention of video game fans will focus on Crimson Desert, an ambitious proposal from Pearl Abyss that has caused a stir due to its varied gameplay in an open world.

From RPG to medieval life simulator and typical soulslike elements, the game presents itself as a hybrid experience that invites exploration and strategic confrontation.

That doesn’t mean it will be accessible

Will Powers, marketing and public relations director of the studio, has been clear in debunking the soulslike label, although he points out that the title will not be accessible in the traditional sense.

In a recent appearance on the Dropped Frames podcast, Powers emphasized that Crimson Desert provides freedom to players, who will be able to choose how to face the bosses, thus avoiding the typical frustration of repetitive encounters.

“There is no progression locked in the sense of ‘I just need to improve my skills to advance,'” he stated, highlighting that players will not be forced to overcome certain obstacles before progressing.

The study has also implemented a system that allows players to customize their experience and difficulty strategically, although it will not have a difficulty selector.

It is possible to obtain power-ups by collecting food and crafting items, thus providing additional opportunities in battles. Powers clarified that this does not make the game easy, but rather adds a layer of accessibility preventing players from becoming completely stuck.

On the other hand, the delivery will be confirmed as a premium title without microtransactions, meaning that what players will acquire on March 19 is the complete game. Powers joked, saying, “That is the transaction. Period.” Although the studio does not rule out future additional content, these would come in the form of expansions to the base title.

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Jesús Bosque

I’m a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in video games and technology. Although my specialty has always been video games, I’ve recently started enjoying exploring the intricacies of project-management tools like Asana, as well as automations with Make.com and N8N.

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