For a limited time, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S owners can access the expansive MMORPG Black Desert without charge. This promotional period, happening this weekend, offers a chance to engage with developer Pearl Abyss' prior work while awaiting their upcoming title, Crimson Desert.
The free access comes as Crimson Desert, originally conceived as a prequel to Black Desert Online but evolved into a standalone narrative, nears its launch on March 19. This impending release has spurred renewed interest in Pearl Abyss's previous endeavors.
Black Desert itself is described as a sprawling MMO featuring a diverse range of gameplay mechanics. Those who have tried it on PC via Steam have had the opportunity to acquire the entire game for free, without trial limitations, on past occasions. One such period concluded on December 18, 2025.
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Further engagement with Crimson Desert has been tied to hardware purchases. Select AMD CPUs and gaming laptops, including various Ryzen and Radeon products, have been part of promotions offering a free code for Crimson Desert. This campaign ran from February 10 to April 25.
The narrative of Crimson Desert centers on Greymane Kliff and his comrades on the continent of Pywel, navigating tensions between rival factions like the Pailune. The story involves Kliff seeking to rebuild his clan and exact vengeance on the Black Bears. The game is set to feature an open world described as twice the size of Skyrim. It will be available simultaneously on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
A previous new-gen update for Black Desert reportedly caused disruption, making it unplayable on older hardware. While PlayStation users received a free upgrade to the PS5 version, the PS4 version was discontinued, leaving some players unable to access the game.
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