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Update: On X, Pearl Abyss’ director of marketing Will Powers has clarified that his comments about no microtransactions are specifically about the game’s launch on March 19. This is because Pearl Abyss wants to make “additional content post-launch.”
Original story:
Pearl Abyss’ director of marketing, Will Powers, has confirmed there are no microtransactions in Crimson Desert while speaking on the Dropped Frames podcast episode 457. Although this may seem obvious for a single-player experience without multiplayer, it stands in stark contrast to some other open-world single-player games, such as the newer Assassin’s Creed installments from Ubisoft.
When asked about microtransactions, Powers said, “This is a premium game you buy one time.” He acknowledged there are pre-order bonuses in the form of cosmetics, but there is no “cosmetic cash shop” in the game, as it is designed to be a “premium experience that you buy and enjoy the world, and not something for microtransactions.”
The confirmation of no microtransactions is good news, especially since Pearl Abyss is also the developer of Black Desert Online, an MMO filled with microtransactions and currency bundles costing as much as $120 (£88).
Crimson Desert is a highly ambitious single-player open-world RPG with an extensive list of features. It has gone gold ahead of its March 19 release, and Pearl Abyss has said its landscape is “at least twice as big as the open world, the playable area, of Skyrim.”
It features talented voice actors such as Neil Newbon from Baldur’s Gate 3, and you will be able to spend hundreds of hours exploring its open world at your own pace while naturally discovering dozens of side activities.
As a premium-priced title, below are its editions and bonuses via the PSN Store:
Standard edition — $70 (£55):
- Khaled Shield — pre-order bonus
Deluxe edition — $80 (£65):
- Khaled Shield — pre-order bonus
- Deluxe Pack:
- Kairos Plate Helm
- Kairos Plate Gloves
- Kairos Plate Boots
- Kairos Cloak
- Kairos Plate Armor
- Balgran Shield
- Exclaire Champron
- Exclaire Barding
- Exclaire Saddle
- Exclaire Stirrups
No microtransactions in Crimson Desert offer stark contrast to Assassin’s Creed
The commitment to no microtransactions differs significantly from other open-world experiences such as the Assassin’s Creed series. Since at least Syndicate in 2015, the Assassin’s Creed installments have included optional microtransactions, with Ubisoft stating they pay for ongoing updates.
Even though Assassin’s Creed Shadows, released in 2025, is single-player only, it includes currency bundles costing up to $50 for 6,600 Helix Credits. The in-game premium store also offers map packs that reveal all side activities, as well as supply packs that help upgrade your hideout without requiring you to grind for materials. Additionally, permanent XP boosters are available for purchase to accelerate progression by 50%.
While these “time savers” and cosmetics are optional and not required to complete the story, the presence of microtransactions in premium single-player titles is always controversial.
By contrast, as confirmed by Will Powers, Crimson Desert will not include any microtransactions. This means you will need to explore the open world naturally to discover everything it has to offer, without being incentivized to purchase any shortcuts. It also suggests that most content will be unlockable through gameplay rather than purchases, aside from the pre-order bonuses.
Crimson Desert releases on March 19 and is one of 2026’s most anticipated games. As for Ubisoft, new rumors suggest the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake will be revealed in April and released a “few months after.”
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