Crimson Desert Likely Launching On Switch 2 Sooner Than You Think
Pearl Abyss Defies Logic And Confirms Crimson Desert Is "Playable" On Switch 2
Custom image created by Josh Coulson using assets provided by Nintendo and Pearl AbyssCrimson Desert made a huge splash when it launched earlier this year, selling millions of copies and wowing people with its huge, detailed open world. An open world that many assumed would prevent it from ever coming to Switch 2. Well, apparently not. Pearl Abyss has not only been working on porting its behemoth to the latest Nintendo console, but a release could be right around the corner.
Pearl Abyss has mentioned trying to put Crimson Desert on Switch 2 before. However, it’s always felt a little like a passing comment. Something the studio would obviously like to do, dabble with, but ultimately determine is impossible because, I mean, come on. I know the Switch 2 can handle a lot more than its predecessor, but something the size and scale of Crimson Desert feels beyond the new console’s reach.
Crimson Desert Is Already "Playable" On Switch 2
Turns out it wasn’t just something Pearl Abyss would give a good, honest go and then forget about forever. In the studio’s latest earnings report, not only does it mention Crimson Desert’s potential Switch 2 port in more detail than it ever has before, but it confirms that the port is playable and even gives it a release window that’s less than a year away.
“Platform expansion is not merely a straightforward port; the key requirement is ensuring that the game's graphics, combat action, and seamless open-world experience are fully preserved on each target device,” the report notes in response to a question about putting Crimson Desert on more platforms.
The only major platform on which Crimson Desert is currently unavailable is Switch 2.
Targeting A First Half Of 2027 Release
“In the case of Switch 2, while optimization is required, the game is currently playable at a foundational level, and technical evaluations are underway to ensure performance optimization and compliance with our quality standards,” the report continues. Yes, that’s right, Crimson Desert is currently playable on Switch 2. That doesn’t mean you can play it, of course, and it’s almost certainly an incredibly rough experience, but to just get a game of that scale functioning on Switch 2 is quite the feat.
It doesn’t stop there either. That section of the Q&A closes with Pearl Abyss tentatively noting that Crimson Desert’s Switch 2 port is on track to be ready by the first half of 2027. It makes sure to be very clear that this is by no means confirmation that we’ll all be running around Pywel as Kliff on our Switch 2s by this time next year, but as it stands, the game can run on Switch 2 and will seemingly get ported sooner rather than later.