Pearl Abyss is taking Crimson Desert beyond the familiar reaches of Pywel with its first major DLC. Crimson Desert Enhanced: Charting the Unknown has been announced for October 15, introducing new areas to explore, underwater discoveries, expanded housing features and additional story content.
The expansion was revealed during Sony Interactive Entertainment’s State of Play showcase, with pre-orders now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store. Charting the Unknown will be released digitally for $24.99, with regional pricing varying by storefront.
Players who pre-order will also receive two exclusive in-game rewards. These include the Charter’s Diving Set for Kliff and Oongka, along with the Charter’s Light Diving Set for Damiane.
While Crimson Desert already offers a large world to explore across Pywel, the upcoming DLC looks to push the adventure into entirely new territory by giving players their own ship. Rather than simply travelling along the existing coastline, players will be able to head out across the ocean in search of previously unexplored islands and whatever secrets may be waiting beyond the horizon.
That exploration will not be limited to the surface, either. Charting the Unknown adds underwater locations where players can search for hidden treasures, investigate sunken ruins and uncover mysteries buried beneath the waves. The expansion appears to be placing a much greater emphasis on exploration and discovery, giving players new reasons to venture away from the areas they have already become familiar with.
Of course, the ocean is not going to be a safe escape from Crimson Desert’s dangers. New enemies and challenges will be waiting both on land and at sea, with Pearl Abyss teasing some of the most demanding battles players will encounter. The ability to adapt to different situations will remain an important part of surviving these encounters, particularly as the DLC introduces threats across environments that players have not previously been able to explore.
Exploration is only one part of the expansion. Charting the Unknown will also expand the more personal side of life in Pywel with an upgraded housing system. Players will have additional options for creating and customizing their homes, allowing them to put more of their own personality into their living spaces.
The DLC will also introduce facilities that players can rent and manage, providing another way to build their fortune while becoming more involved in everyday life across Pywel. These additions are accompanied by deeper opportunities to build relationships with the world’s inhabitants, suggesting that Charting the Unknown is looking to expand more than just the game’s combat and exploration.
The story will receive its own collection of new threads as well. Pearl Abyss is teasing several mysteries and conflicts that will unfold throughout the expansion, including an ominous presence lurking in the desert, a dangerous political struggle, a journey that reaches beyond the boundaries of time and an ancient secret hidden beneath the ocean.
Kliff, Oongka and Damiane will each have roles to play as these new stories unfold, with their journeys pushing them toward new discoveries and forcing them to confront questions surrounding their respective purposes and destinies.
Taken together, Charting the Unknown looks set to considerably broaden the scope of Crimson Desert. The ability to sail into unexplored waters and investigate underwater locations gives the open-world RPG an entirely new dimension, while the expanded housing and management systems provide additional activities for players who want to spend more time building a life rather than simply moving from one battle to the next.
With the DLC arriving on October 15, players won’t have too long to wait before they can find out what lies beyond Pywel’s shores. Pre-orders are currently available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store for $24.99.
Crimson Desert Enhanced: Charting the Unknown is scheduled to launch worldwide on October 15.