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Pearl Abyss Confirms Crimson Desert DLC for 2026 and Plans Switch 2 Port and Sequels

The studio says the upcoming expansion will help decide whether Crimson Desert becomes a long‑running franchise while it absorbs higher labor costs from post‑launch bonuses.

Overview

  • Pearl Abyss, which disclosed its second‑quarter earnings Tuesday, said it is actively developing the first Crimson Desert DLC and is targeting a release within this year.
  • The company reports the game has reached a playable baseline on Nintendo Switch 2 and is working toward a Switch 2 launch targeted for the first half of 2027.
  • Pearl Abyss frames Crimson Desert as the start of a franchise and says it is open to sequels and multiplayer but warns that adding multiplayer would be a major technical undertaking requiring extensive evaluation.
  • Media estimates put early launch revenue at roughly $200 million in the first two weeks, and Pearl Abyss reported a 94% quarter‑on‑quarter rise in labor expenses tied to performance bonuses paid to 1,035 employees.
  • Pearl Abyss will publish DLC details on structure, pricing, and schedule in Q3 and says future expansions and multiplayer plans will depend on the first DLC’s quality and player response.