Overview
Crimson Desert launches worldwide on March 19, 2026. Preloading begins 48 hours before the global launch, on March 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT. The game is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and macOS.
Global launch times
Crimson Desert uses a simultaneous worldwide launch. All platforms go live at the same moment, which translates to different local times depending on region.
Region | Local Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
US Pacific (PT) | 3:00 PM | Thursday, March 19 |
US Eastern (ET) | 6:00 PM | Thursday, March 19 |
UK / GMT | 10:00 PM | Thursday, March 19 |
Central Europe (CET) | 11:00 PM | Thursday, March 19 |
Brazil (BRT) | 7:00 PM | Thursday, March 19 |
Japan (JST) | 7:00 AM | Friday, March 20 |
Korea (KST) | 7:00 AM | Friday, March 20 |
Australia Eastern (AEST) | 8:00 AM | Friday, March 20 |
Preload schedule
PC preloading on Steam begins on March 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT, exactly 48 hours before the launch window opens. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S preloads follow platform-standard schedules (typically 48 hours before launch). Players who pre-ordered any edition can begin downloading immediately when preload opens.
File size and storage requirements
Platform | Required Storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PC (Steam) | 135 GB | Official requirement; test builds weighed ~121 GB. Budget ~150 GB for the download and unpacking process. |
Physical disc (console) | 77 GB disc + 48 GB patch | The disc contains 77.03 GB; a mandatory 48.24 GB Day 1 patch is required to play. |
An SSD is strongly recommended on PC. The official system requirements list an SSD under all tiers from Minimum through Ultra.
Internet requirement
An internet connection is required for initial setup and the mandatory Day 1 patch. After completing the setup, offline play is supported. The PC version also uses Denuvo DRM, which requires periodic online re-verification.
Review embargo
The review embargo lifts on March 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT, approximately 24 hours before the game becomes playable. This allows potential buyers to read professional reviews before the launch window opens.