Crimson Desert free co-op mode is coming as multiplayer test gets underway

Crimson Desert is finally getting multiplayer support, just not in the way Pearl Abyss originally intended.

Earlier this year, Pearl Abyss confirmed that its highly-successful single-player RPG, Crimson Desert, would be embracing its heritage with a free multiplayer expansion. Its predecessor Black Desert was an MMO, so many fans were keen to one day explore the continent of Pywel with friends.

While that official update is still in the works, modders have beaten Pearl Abyss to the punch. No one’s surprised though right? Modders have been going crazy on the game, even going as far as to create a map builder/editor.

Reddit user No-Context2224 shared their creation online in a post that read: “I'm building a co-op multiplayer mod for Crimson Desert. Here's an early test with a friend.”

The mod is still in early development and a public build is not yet available, but steady progress has been made thus far.

No-Context2224 said players currently see each other move and interact with the environment, fight enemies, and customise their character. You can even fight enemies together; both players can contribute to the depletion of the same enemy’s health bar. Seeing each other move, run, jump, glide, climb walls and pull up onto ledges

The catch is Crimson Desert is still technically running two different game worlds. This means many NPCs, animals and enemies aren’t going to be standing in the same spots. The example No-Context2224 gives is their friend riding a horse that couldn’t be seen.

Nevertheless it’s an impressive proof of concept, especially when Crimson Desert has a whole team of developers working on the official multiplayer mode.

You can expect Pearl Abyss’ own take on multiplayer to be much larger, and more fleshed out, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how they’ll tie it into the game’s story. It’d be weird to have multiple Cliff’s running around at once right?

When Crimson Desert’s multiplayer and DLC expansion will launch

Despite Pearl Abyss confirming that multiplayer is on the way, it’s yet to confirm when we can expect to see it. However, there’s a good chance we’re looking at an early 2027 launch date.

Crimson Desert’s first DLC expansion is called Charting the Unknown and it’s primed for release later this month on October 29.

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It’ll expand the game’s story with new quests, but more importantly it’ll let players sail across the ocean in their own ship. You’ll even be able to explore the ocean’s depths for treasures.

With the expansion coming later this month, the multiplayer update will probably follow promptly, but I wouldn’t expect it to drop anytime this year.

Those looking for a taste of what’s to come though should keep an eye on No-Context2224’s mod. Hopefully there’ll be a public build dropping soon.

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