Michael Douse, Publishing Director at Larian Studios, the acclaimed developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3, has offered his perspective on Pearl Abyss’s upcoming title, Crimson Desert.
Douse characterized Crimson Desert as “fun to play” but ultimately “a very cynical mix of borrowed mechanics.” He likened it to a “greatest hits of games” compilation, noting that this approach comes with both advantages and disadvantages.
“In Crimson Desert, it’s fun to play, but it’s a very cynical mix of borrowed mechanics. It’s like a ‘Greatest Hits of Games’ — with all the pros and cons.”
He acknowledged that such “cynicism” isn’t unique to Crimson Desert, having observed similar trends in other AAA open-world titles. In fact, Douse suggested that the developers of Crimson Desert might have executed this strategy even better than some of their peers.
Looking ahead, Douse predicted that the gaming landscape would see an increasing number of similar titles – those that blend various mechanics from existing projects – across both premium and free-to-play sectors. This trend, he explained, is likely driven by a desire to mitigate development risks.