Michael Douse, the Publishing Director at Larian Studios, recently shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated game, Crimson Desert, labeling it a “cynical blend of borrowed mechanics.” While Douse admitted the game was “fun to play,” he likened it to music compilations, emphasizing its eclectic and derivative nature.
His comments follow remarks from Crimson Desert’s Marketing Director, Will Powers, who previously acknowledged that the project draws inspiration from numerous other titles. Douse agreed that the concept of borrowing ideas is not new, even predicting that this approach will become increasingly prevalent in both premium and free-to-play games, as it significantly reduces risks for developers.
However, the Larian executive also pointed out that many major AAA open-world games similarly build upon existing concepts. He commended Crimson Desert for its ambition to complicate the gameplay formula rather than simplify it. Douse further suggested that the game holds considerable potential for growth and could greatly benefit from evolving in a direction akin to titles like Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.