New Game Plus

Overview

New Game Plus (commonly abbreviated as NG+) is a feature under consideration for Crimson Desert that would allow players to begin a second playthrough after completing the main story while retaining character progression from the previous run. The mode was not included when the game launched on March 19, 2026, and as of patch 1.00.03 (March 24, 2026), it has still not been added. Pearl Abyss has publicly stated that the feature is something they are open to exploring in a post-launch update, though no formal announcement or timeline has been provided.

Crimson Desert does not have selectable difficulty settings. The game uses a single, fixed difficulty curve where the challenge at any given point is determined by your character level, equipment upgrades, and skill investments rather than by a menu toggle. If New Game Plus is eventually added, it would likely serve as the main avenue for players seeking a tougher second experience, since there is no way to manually raise the difficulty within the existing framework.

This article covers everything currently known about NG+ plans, outlines the mechanics that are expected based on developer commentary and community documentation, and provides practical advice for maximizing your current save so that you are ready the moment the feature goes live.

Current Availability

Status as of March 25, 2026: New Game Plus is not available in Crimson Desert. The game shipped without the feature, and the two post-launch patches released so far (v1.00.02 and v1.00.03) focused on bug fixes, control improvements, boss difficulty tuning, and quality-of-life additions such as Private Storage and additional Abyss Nexus fast-travel points across Pywel. Neither patch introduced NG+ or any replay-related system.

In a pre-launch interview with preview coverage, Pearl Abyss director of marketing Will Powers stated: "If there's appetite for something, then we'll continue to support it post-launch." Pearl Abyss has not committed to a New Game Plus mode. While this does not constitute a firm focus on NG+, it signals that the studio is watching community feedback closely.

This article will be updated with confirmed mechanical details the moment Pearl Abyss officially adds New Game Plus to the game.

How to Unlock (Expected)

Based on patterns established by comparable action RPGs and limited developer commentary, New Game Plus is expected to unlock after the player completes the main story campaign. Crimson Desert features two endings: a standard ending reached at roughly 50 hours of playtime, and a true ending that requires approximately 80 hours of engagement with companion questlines and optional faction content. It is not yet known whether both endings grant access to NG+ or whether only the true ending qualifies.

The campaign follows Kliff and the Greymane mercenaries across the continent of Pywel, spanning eight main chapters from the Prologue through the Epilogue. After the final story mission, the game currently allows players to continue exploring the open world freely. When NG+ is added, the option to start a new cycle is expected to appear either on the main menu or through a post-credits prompt.

What is Expected to Carry Over

NG+ in Crimson Desert is anticipated to let players keep their character statistics and learned skills, with "sometimes equipment" also transferring. Full confirmation from Pearl Abyss is still pending, but the table below summarizes the expected carry-over status for each major progression category based on available sources and conventions from similar titles.

Expected Difficulty Changes

entry, enemies and bosses encountered in New Game Plus will be "much stronger and tougher to defeat." Since Crimson Desert has no difficulty slider, this enemy scaling would represent the only way to experience a harder version of the campaign within the same save file.

The specifics of how difficulty scaling will work have not been detailed, but based on the game's existing systems and conventions from similar titles, the following changes are anticipated:

Patch 1.00.03 already adjusted the base game's difficulty by reducing health and attack values for certain early-game enemies and main quest bosses. If NG+ arrives, it would effectively restore and surpass the original difficulty curve, giving veteran players the punishing experience many have requested on community forums.

Potential NG+ Exclusive Rewards

Pearl Abyss has not confirmed any rewards exclusive to New Game Plus. However, games with comparable design philosophies often offer incentives for replaying at higher difficulty. The following types of NG+-exclusive rewards are plausible for Crimson Desert based on the game's existing reward structure:

• Unique weapon skins or variants: Crimson Desert already has an extensive dye system and weapon refinement. NG+ could introduce exclusive weapon models or color palettes unavailable in the first playthrough.

• Upgraded armor sets: Higher-tier versions of existing armor with improved defense values or bonus effects would give players a tangible reason to replay.

• New Abyss Artifacts: Additional Abyss Artifacts placed throughout NG+ could expand the skill tree further, unlocking abilities that were inaccessible in the first run.

• Exclusive trophies or achievements: Separate trophy milestones for completing NG+ or defeating certain bosses on the higher difficulty tier.

• Cosmetic titles or emblems: Completing NG+ could grant profile titles or emblems visible in any future multiplayer or cooperative features.

Until Pearl Abyss makes an official announcement, these possibilities remain speculative. The article will be updated with confirmed reward details once they are revealed.

Preparing for New Game Plus

Even though NG+ is not yet available, players who expect to use the feature when it arrives can take steps now to ensure their save file is in the best possible shape. Progression in Crimson Desert is primarily driven by skill tree investments, equipment refinement, and resource accumulation, all of which are likely to carry over. The following preparation strategies will maximize the advantage you carry into a second playthrough.

Complete Both Endings

Crimson Desert has two endings. The standard ending concludes the main story at around 50 hours, while the true ending extends the narrative to roughly 80 hours by requiring completion of companion questlines and optional faction content. Since it is unclear which ending will unlock NG+, pursuing the true ending is the safest approach. This also ensures you have experienced the complete story before starting over.

Max Out Your Skill Trees

• Collect all 141 Sealed Abyss Artifacts scattered across Pywel. These provide the skill points needed to fill out the branching skill trees for Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka.

• Observe enemy and NPC combat techniques in the world. Skills in Crimson Desert are often learned by watching others fight, so revisit areas you may have rushed through to pick up any missed observations.

• Invest in a well-rounded build rather than a hyper-specialized one. NG+ enemies will likely punish one-dimensional strategies, so having access to a broad toolkit will be more valuable than maxing a single branch.

Upgrade Equipment to Maximum Tiers

• Refine your weapons to the highest available enhancement level using Bloodstone and other rare refinement materials. Fully refined weapons will give you a major damage advantage at the start of NG+.

• Upgrade your armor sets similarly. Prioritize the set you use most, but consider upgrading a secondary set for flexibility against different enemy types.

• Visit every blacksmith and vendor in Hernand and surrounding regions to ensure you have not missed any purchasable equipment upgrades.

Stockpile Resources

• Accumulate as much silver as possible. Sell surplus materials, complete Hernand Commission quests, and loot enemy camps thoroughly. A large currency reserve will let you purchase upgrades immediately when NG+ begins.

• Gather high-tier cooking ingredients and prepare meals that provide stat buffs. If consumables carry over, having a stockpile of powerful food items will ease early NG+ encounters.

• Hoard valuable crafting materials such as rare ores and animal materials. Even if some items reset, having excess materials reduces the chance of starting NG+ empty-handed.

Clear All Optional Content

• Defeat every optional boss in the game. Crimson Desert has 76 total bosses, and many are hidden behind faction questlines or found only through open-world exploration. Beating them all before NG+ ensures you have collected their unique drops.

• Complete all faction quests. There are well over 100 faction quests spread across multiple groups. Their rewards include exclusive gear, silver, and dispatch missions for the Greymane Camp.

• Finish every Challenge across the map. Challenges reward unique items and contribute toward trophies. Completing them now means you start NG+ with their rewards in your inventory (if they carry over).

• Fill out the Knowledge System. Interact with every NPC, examine objects, and explore all regions to collect as many of the 2,921 knowledge entries as possible.

Upgrade the Greymane Camp

The Greymane Camp is your home base throughout the game. Upgrade all camp facilities to their maximum levels, including crafting stations, the kitchen, and rest areas. Even if camp progress resets in NG+, the resources you earn from maxed-out facilities can be spent on gear and consumables that do carry over.

Post-Game Alternatives While Waiting for NG+

Since New Game Plus is not yet available, players who have finished the main story are not without options. Crimson Desert's endgame offers substantial content that can keep you engaged for dozens of additional hours.

Trophy hunters aiming for 100% completion can expect a total investment of 250 to 300 hours, providing plenty of content to keep busy until a potential NG+ update lands.

Tips

If you are eager to replay the story and cannot wait for NG+, starting a new save file is always an option. While you will lose all progression, your knowledge of the game's systems gives you a significant advantage. These tips will help you get the most out of a second run:

1. Prioritize different skill paths. Since skills are learned by observing NPCs and enemies in the world, knowing where to look lets you build an entirely different playstyle much faster than on your first run.

2. Get your mount early. Head to Deepfog Basin as soon as it becomes accessible to acquire your horse. Mounted combat and faster overworld traversal open up enormous quality-of-life improvements.

3. Invest in stamina upgrades first. Climbing, swimming, and gliding all consume stamina. Boosting your stamina pool early makes the open world far more accessible and reduces frustrating falls or drownings.

4. Buy a strong weapon in Hernand immediately. Visit the blacksmith in Hernand as soon as you arrive. Purchasing or refining a solid weapon before venturing into dangerous territory cuts down on early-game frustration.

5. Do not ignore faction quests. Faction questlines unlock new dispatch missions, camp upgrades, and unique rewards. Starting them early in your second playthrough rather than saving them for endgame gives you access to these benefits sooner.

6. Use the Knowledge System strategically. On your first run you likely stumbled into knowledge entries by accident. On a second run, you can actively pursue high-value entries that unlock hidden bonuses or provide lore context for upcoming story beats.

7. Aim for the true ending. If you only saw the standard ending on your first playthrough, a second run gives you the opportunity to engage with the companion questlines and optional content needed to unlock the extended true ending.

• Keep your completed save file. Do not delete or overwrite your finished save. When NG+ arrives, you will need a completed save to initiate the new cycle. Use a separate save slot if you want to start a fresh run in the meantime.

• Farm silver in the endgame. Silver is the most versatile resource in Crimson Desert. Even if you have everything you need right now, stockpiling extra silver ensures you can afford any new NG+-exclusive items or upgrades the moment they become available.

• Master parry timing. If NG+ enemies hit harder and have tighter windows, strong defensive fundamentals will matter more than raw damage output. Practice parrying against the game's toughest optional bosses to build muscle memory.

• Experiment with all three characters. Do not rely solely on Kliff. Spend time mastering Damiane's and Oongka's combat styles. NG+ may feature encounters designed to test your proficiency across all three.

• Follow official channels for updates. Pearl Abyss announces patches and new features through the official Crimson Desert website and social media. Keep an eye on the patch notes page for any NG+ announcements.

• Check back on this article. This page will be updated with confirmed mechanics, carry-over details, and exclusive rewards as soon as Pearl Abyss officially adds New Game Plus to the game.

Other Planned Post-Launch Features

New Game Plus is one of several features Pearl Abyss has indicated they are open to adding after launch. The studio has emphasized that post-launch support will depend on commercial performance and community demand. In interviews, Will Powers has indicated that Pearl Abyss is open to extending post-launch development when player interest is strong enough. The following features have been discussed publicly: