Crimson Desert has had one of the more unusual marketing rollouts in recent years. It was announced back in 2019 and no one really paid attention to it until it made a splash at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 when the open-world game showed off horse drifting. Ever since, there’s been hype around its big ambitions and visual spectacle, and skepticism around, like, what you actually spend most of your time doing in the game and whether it’s actually any fun. This week we’ll finally get to see if it can deliver.
Digital Foundry has had glowing coverage of its early access to the game, including a PS5 Pro version that was shared with the expert analysts there via a dedicated console that had the game pre-installed, presumably so they couldn’t also test the base PS5 version that most people will be playing. But whether the grand spectacle can be achieved with less hardware horsepower is only part of the equation. I’m equally curious whether the open world feels immersive and alive like those in Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Ghost of Yotei, or if it’s more of a checklist of map icons like in some Ubisoft games.
I’ll be picking up my physical copy this Thursday from the store when it launches . Unfortunately, it requires a massive day-one download right out of the box. Is that why console versions weren’t available to reviewers ahead of release? In the meantime, my plate’s still full with Slay the Spire 2, Marathon, and last week’s Monster Hunter Stories 3, a surprisingly impressive turn-based action-adventure I’m using to try to JRPG-pill my kids.
Monday, March 16
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin | PS5, PC
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Grind Survivors | PC
Deadline Delivery | PC
Tuesday, March 17
Dread Delusion (port) | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch 2
MLB The Show 26 | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Deadzone: Rogue | Switch 2
Everwind | PC
Fallen Tear: The Ascension | PC
Wednesday, March 18
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (port) | Switch 2
The Cube, Save Us | PC
Thursday, March 19
The Coin Game (1.0 release) | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Crimson Desert | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (port) | PC
Dragonkin: The Banished (1.0 release) | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Voidwrought (port) | PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Friday, March 20
Ghost Master: Resurrection | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Crystalfall | PC
The Week In Games is Kotaku’s weekly roundup of notable, interesting, and/or big video game launches that are happening over the next seven days. Feel free to share other game release dates that might not be included above in the comments below.
