Crimson Desert is a “Cynical Amalgamation of Borrowed Mechanics,” Says Larian’s Publishing Director

Saying that Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss’s hit open-world action-adventure, borrows from several other big-name titles would be an understatement. Director of PR and marketing Will Powers even said it would be “arrogant of a studio to say that other games do not inspire them.” And while Michael Douse, the outspoken director of publishing at Larian Studios, isn’t necessarily disagreeing, he does have some strong opinions on the game.

“Crimson Desert is fun to play, but it is such a cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics. It is Now That’s What I Call Gaming plucked off a gas station shelf, for better & worse. Expect a lot more of this in premium and free-to-play. There is less risk in it.”

However, he followed by asking, “Is it more cynical than any other big AAA open world game that borrows from its own past? Probably not. At least it’s adding spice to the stew, rather than removing it.” Douse also thought it would be “sick” if Crimson Desert had a similar moment as Dragon’s Dogma when it received the Dark Arisen expansion, since its “momentum points toward it.”

Granted, it’s easy to get offended by the word “cynical” or call out Larian for its ample number of inspirations over the years. However, when you look at upcoming titles like Ananta, which is a free-to-play action RPG that also crams so many elements from Marvel’s Spider-Man, Sleeping Dogs, and whatnot, there is some merit to what Douse is saying. And besides, as noted at the start, he is having fun with it.

Regardless of which side you’re on (I’m something of a Now That’s What I Call Music enjoyer myself), Crimson Desert is a success, and the response has only improved since its latest patch. Between the five new permanent mounts, removal of AI-generated assets, improved performance and much more. Check out all the major details here. You can also learn more about Alec Newman’s struggles with voicing Kliff and how the story changed significantly over the years.