Crimson Desert Sneaks in Despised Feature Days Away From Launch

Crimson Desert finally arrives next week, and despite the pre-release hype it has garnered over the years, an unwanted feature sneaks in ahead of release that could cause a negative reception.

The highly anticipated fantasy RPG, Crimson Desert, was announced in 2019 and was originally going to be an online multiplayer game and a sequel to Black Desert Online. However, it’s looking like the decision to shift it into a single-player game might just pay off.

Crimson Desert looks like it could be a treat for fans of Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim with its medieval fantasy setting, expansive open world, gorgeous visuals and epic boss fights that look somewhat reminiscent of Elden Ring.

What’s the Controversial Feature in Crimson Desert?

As brought to our attention by Pirat_Nation on Twitter, the developers of Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss, have implemented Denuvo DRM ahead of its launch next week.

DRM, a software deployed by developers that aims to prevent the game from being pirated, or at least, that’s what is the most common statement.

Crimson Desert is facing huge backlash after adding Denuvo DRM 7 days before launch. pic.twitter.com/GZDM3MTm1j

— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) March 12, 2026

However, as we recently learned with the likes of the Resident Evil 4 remake, DRM can not only negatively impact a game's visuals and performance in a big way, but it also acts as another blockade against digital ownership.

The decision to add DRM to the Resident Evil 4 remake was particularly odd because it arrived roughly three years after its release. Thankfully, Capcom soon reversed that decision.

DRM will prevent your PC's digital file from being copied to other systems. Unlike games on the platform GOG, which are DRM-free, you can share those games on any PC or laptop of your choosing. Essentially, you own that digital PC file from GOG.

Another issue with DRM is that if an online server for a particular game shuts down, it’s entirely possible that you might not be able to access that game again. Not like a game from GOG, which has its file directly downloaded to your system.

It remains to be seen whether or not Pearl Abyss will follow Capcom’s lead and remove DRM from Crimson Desert. I suppose that could all depend on the intensity of the fan backlash in the coming days. Only time will tell.

Crimson Desert will be released on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on 19 March 2026. Keep a lookout for our review around its launch sometime next week.