Crimson Desert DLC locks standout feature behind hefty in-game paywall, prepare for a grind

Crimson Desert’s new DLC, Charting the Unknown, is officially out now, but if players want to experience its standout feature, they’ll need to grind…

Pearl Abyss has created something truly special with Crimson Desert. Whilst the game’s not my cup of tea, I’m going to give credit where credit is due and say it’s one of the most impressive open worlds I’ve ever seen in a game.

Somehow, the free Charting the Unknown expansion makes it even bigger and while you could explore the game’s new map atop a dragon, you’re encouraged to try a new mode of transport instead: customisable ships.

There’s one big problem, though. Players are discovering that the Large Hermandian ship (the one you’ll want) costs more than most players actually have.

Reddit user u/Dream__Daeng shared a post on the new DLC exclaiming “I'm sorry 6 MILLION?!?!?!”

That’s right, the largest ship you can acquire costs seven figures of in-game currency, so if you haven’t been saving throughout the main story, now’s the time to start.

Even the medium-sized ship costs over a million, with the smallest vessel costing a mere 40,000. Still a lot, but much more affordable.

If you’re seriously strapped for cash, you can instead buy a rowboat for 2,000 copper. That’s the real pirate life experience right there.

Players are already calling upon Pearl Abyss to lower the price with an update, as while the DLC is free, it still sucks that so many have been locked out of its coolest addition on such short notice.

If you simply can’t wait for Pearl Abyss to intervene, though, you’ve got a few options for how to amass enough funds for the largest ship.

How to make enough money to afford Crimson Desert’s largest ship

Those who are still early into their playthrough might as well give up now, as you’re unlikely to get enough cash from the early-game quests/activities.

The late-game players are going to have an easier time here, as places like the bank can be abused with save-states to earn money fast.

All you need to do is invest in high-risk, but high-reward ventures and ensure you’ve saved your game before depositing the funds. If you come up short, you can simply reload the save and try again

The only downside to this method is it’s boring! If you want to do something a little more engaging, you’ll have to raid caves and mine some gold ore. Gold bars are worth a fortune in this game and if you’re quick about it, you’ll have enough in no time.

Sounds like a lot of work is involved, but it’ll be worth it so you can sail the sea in style. Hopefully Pearl Abyss takes player feedback on board, though and slashes the price of its DLC ships.

Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown is out now for all platforms, and a free trial for the base game is available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles too.