South Korean studio Pearl Abyss has pushed the launch of its open-world action-RPG "Crimson Desert" into the first quarter of 2026, postponing the title for a second time. The game was most recently scheduled for a late-2025 release after an earlier slip from an initial 2021 target. Management told investors on the company’s second-quarter earnings call that the delay was "unavoidable," citing longer-than-expected timelines for voice-over recording, console certification, offline distribution and other launch preparations. A firm date will be set "at a more appropriate time based on business considerations," the company said. Pearl Abyss plans to keep promoting the game, with builds slated for public showings at Gamescom and PAX West in August and the Tokyo Game Show in September. "Crimson Desert" is being developed for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and is the studio’s first large-scale console project following its online hit "Black Desert Online."