Overview
- Pearl Abyss maintains Crimson Desert is not an RPG and has asked outlets to frame it as an open-world adventure.
- Marketing director Will Powers cites the lack of experience points and character leveling, plus no traditional dialog choices or full character creator.
- Progression is driven by discovering abyss artifacts, equipment, materials, and blueprints, putting exploration over grinding.
- The game still includes systems many associate with RPGs, such as stats, gear, loot, side quests, skill trees, and crafting.
- Powers confirmed there will be no microtransaction shop at launch and said PC mod support is undecided, with debate continuing about a month from release.