Millions of Steam Users Are Planning on Checking Out a New Open World Action RPG Coming Soon

Crimson Desert, one of this year’s most anticipated games, has surpassed two million wishlists, setting the stage for an impressive launch on March 19. Since its announcement, Crimson Desert has captured attention, particularly among open-world RPG fans on platforms like Steam. Over the past few years, however, it has sparked widespread discussion across the gaming industry, largely due to its ambitious goals and bold effort to deliver a multilayered, complex gameplay experience.

In September 2025, developer Pearl Abyss confirmed the launch date for Crimson Desert, setting March 19, 2026, as the big day. So far, the developer has stayed on track, with no signs of delay. As the release approaches, interest in the game continues to grow, with more gamers pledging to play it. In fact, the excitement has been so high that many are already calling Crimson Desert one of the biggest releases of 2026, a year that also includes major titles like GTA 6.

New Open World Game Is Bigger Than Red Dead Redemption 2, Twice the Size of Skyrim

A new fantasy RPG is aiming big, with its developer claiming an open world larger than Red Dead Redemption 2 and roughly twice the size of Skyrim.

Crimson Desert Crosses Two Million Wishlists

On Crimson Desert‘s Twitter, Pearl Abyss recently announced that the game has surpassed two million wishlists. Although the official post doesn’t specify, this number appears to include wishlists across all major platforms. According to estimates from Raijin.gg, Crimson Desert has nearly a million wishlists on Steam alone, with the remainder likely spread across the Epic Games Store and Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

Pearl Abyss has already confirmed that Crimson Desert has gone gold, indicating that development is largely complete, and the team is now focused on polishing and optimization. The studio has also shared exciting news with fans, teasing features such as additional playable characters and PS5 Pro support, which have likely contributed to the surge in wishlists across platforms.

According to SteamDB data, Crimson Desert ranks #17 among all upcoming Steam games in total wishlists. Subnautica 2 still leads the chart, though, followed by titles like Deadlock and Resident Evil Requiem. It’s also worth noting that Pearl Abyss’ $70 game is among Steam’s top 100 bestsellers, showing that many players aren’t just bookmarking the game—they’ve already pre-ordered it.

High Wishlist Numbers Don’t Necessarily Mean Success

While Crimson Desert‘s wishlist milestone is impressive, history shows that high pre-release numbers don’t guarantee success. Several games in recent years have led the charts in wishlists, only to flop at launch and become major disappointments. A notable example is The Day Before, which once topped Steam’s most-wishlisted games but ended up as one of the worst releases ever, even contributing to the developer’s closure.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

Of course, Crimson Desert is unlikely to face the same disastrous launch as games like The Day Before, as the developer has invested time in polishing it. Still, given the scale of its open-world universe and the advanced technologies involved, such as volumetric clouds, ray marching illumination, and ray regeneration, the March 19 release faces a high bar for optimization. Fans are now hoping for a smooth launch that will captivate the millions of open-world RPG enthusiasts eagerly counting down the days to play Crimson Desert.