Crimson Desert's First Expansion Is Releasing Next Month

Crimson Desert's first expansion releases in October, and it's going to have a ton of game-changing content, including underwater gameplay.

During today's PlayStation State of Play, Pearl Abyss announced Crimson Desert: Chartering the Unknown, a brand new expansion for one of 2026's breakout titles. The new DLC will release on October 15 and add city building mechanics, underwater exploration, a ship that players can captain, and much more. The DLC takes place after the main story and continues the story of the game, so players should probably go back and finish the game if they haven't already to prepare for the new DLC.

As of right now, we're not sure how much this expansion will cost, but it certainly won't be free. Those who pre-order will get a free deep sea diver outfit as a nice bonus. If you were already feeling overwhelmed by all the games coming out in September and October, Pearl Abyss is ensuring you'll have something else to sink dozens of hours into.

Crimson Desert debuted earlier this year and immediately became one of the biggest games of 2026. Players were fond off the game's deep open-world RPG mechanics, allowing for nuanced and rich combat and exploration. It's a game that you can sink countless hours into without getting bored, so it's great to see Pearl Abyss is keeping players well-fed so soon after release.

Today's announcement comes as part of the latest showcase from PlayStation. Catch up on everything announced during Sony's State of Play September 2026 broadcast right here.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.