With a map twice the size of Skyrim and larger than Red Dead Redemption 2, promising open-world game Crimson Desert is real big – but still "incredibly interactive"

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With a map twice the size of Skyrim and larger than Red Dead Redemption 2, promising open-world game Crimson Desert is real big – but still "incredibly interactive" News By Scott McCrae published 9 January 2026

You can ride dragons and mechs around it, because why not

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Pearl Abyss says Crimson Desert's world has been revealed to be twice the size of Skyrim and bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2 in a new info drop.

I'm still not sure how to feel about Crimson Desert. I played it about two years ago and it had me keen on its punishing combat and ability to do wrestling moves on unsuspecting bandits – including a Stone Cold Stunner, which I can't say I've seen deployed in a non-wrestling game before – but since I was only able to fight bosses, I was unsure how that would actually translate to an open world game. But it looks like the approach is "why not" as it includes a ton of mechanics that you wouldn't expect from a fantasy game.

Most notably is the map, according to Pearl Abyss PR director Will Powers. "The world's at least twice as big as the open world/playable area of Skyrim, [and] it is larger than the map of a Red Dead Redemption 2." But it's all well and good to have a big map, but what's more important is you actually have things to do in it.

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Powers explains: "Open-world games are about doing things, having activities, having distractions. So we wanted to create a world that's not only massive but is also incredibly interactive."

New footage revealed during the New Game+ Showcase also includes a look at some of the mechanics included in the game for traversing the open world, allowing players to mount and ride dragons, bears, and then inexplicably for fantasy, also dinosaurs and mechsuits. The game also takes a page out of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's book by including explorable sky islands which are described as "very important." Plus, earlier footage showed off a grappling hook, which is always a win.

At a ridiculously detailed showcase of the open-world engine behind the RPG Crimson Desert, I asked a ridiculously detailed question about water and all hell broke loose.

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Xbox Series X PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation Scott McCraeSocial Links NavigationContributor

Scott has been freelancing for over three years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

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