PS5 Drops Free RPG You Need To Play Ahead of Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert’s launch is almost upon us, with the highly anticipated action-adventure due to land on 19 March on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

I’m very much with those tweets you’ve likely seen claiming that this is either going to be one of the best games of all-time, or a complete and utter flop.

It depends on whether it can deliver on its promises. Crimson Desert offers all of the usual fare; players will follow a captivating story as they defeat enemies and bosses, all whilst completing side quests too.

There’s also a keen sense of exploration and freedom offered though. You can ride a dragon, discover mythical beasts lurking in the depth of a forest, or simply fling yourself from trees just for the hell of it.

Crimson Desert promises a lot, although gamers are held up on the fact that Pearl Abyss is yet to drop any footage of the game running on console.

In the meantime, there’s another RPG offering you may want to sample to help kill the wait ahead of Crimson Desert’s launch.

Black Desert Online Is Free On PS5 Until 8 March

Pearl Abyss’ live-service Black Desert Online has launched a free access period that you can enjoy on PlayStation 5 as well as Xbox Series X/S.

On PS5, Black Desert Online is free to sample until 8 March - and you don’t need a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Simply head to the PlayStation Store, search for the title and you should be able to “purchase” it for free.

You’ll have access to the full breadth of the game, including anniversary events and the newly updated Olvia Academy progression content.

On Xbox, free access runs until 9 March but you will need a Game Pass subscription. Any tier is fine.

Pearl Abyss

O’dyllita is Black Desert Online’s newest open-world region. You will need 85,000 CP to enter though, so it’s perhaps not the place to head for beginners.

For seasoned players, the region is home to new monsters, rewards, and accessories.

If you are brand new to Black Desert Online, the game centres around the conflict between the warring nations of the Republic of Calpheon and the Kingdom of Valencia after the spread of the Black Death sent the stability of society into disarray.

Precious black stones were discovered and harvested, becoming the most lucrative form of trade and thus crucial commodities for all nations looking to rebuild.

Valencia was one of the first to discover the stones, while Calpheon took to stealing stones as the Republic’s lands yielded none.

This spawned a war over the titular Black Desert where the stones are abundantly found.

It’s a great MMORPG that should show you what Pearl Abyss is capable of, so dive in before it’s too late.