I stood in front of the preorder page as the counter spun and hundreds of people hit buy at once. The chat lit up like someone had fed it an adrenaline shot. You want to try Crimson Desert first, not gamble on hype.
Is Crimson Desert Coming to Game Pass?
At launch week the feeds and Discord servers were full of one repeating question: will it hit Game Pass?
I’ll give you the short answer first: no. Neither Microsoft nor Pearl Abyss has announced a day‑and‑date Game Pass release, and when a title of this scale lands on Game Pass the companies usually make that news immediately.
You can still try to gauge the odds. Pearl Abyss already brought Black Desert Online to Game Pass previously, so a working relationship exists between the studio and Microsoft. Game Pass also has a pattern of adding long single‑player campaigns and big open‑world RPGs — think CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 and Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — which makes Crimson Desert a logical candidate at some future point.
Is Crimson Desert on Xbox Game Pass right now?
No. If you want to play on day one you’ll need to buy the game through the Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, or PC storefronts like Steam or the Epic Games Store. I’d check Pearl Abyss’ official channels and the Xbox Game Pass library page for sudden announcements, but don’t expect a surprise drop without press from either Microsoft or the developer.
Will Crimson Desert Ever Come to Xbox Game Pass?
At my last check the pattern was clear: Game Pass tends to add big, time‑heavy titles after launch windows close.
That makes a future Game Pass arrival plausible. Black Desert’s previous presence on Game Pass proves Pearl Abyss will work with Microsoft, and Microsoft has shown willingness to add hours‑heavy experiences to the catalogue. Still, nothing is official — and agreements for first‑party or timed exclusives can shift plans fast.
What are the chances Crimson Desert joins Game Pass later?
Reasonable, but not certain. If Pearl Abyss wants broad exposure and Microsoft wants another marquee RPG, both parties benefit. Adding Crimson Desert to Game Pass would behave like a slow‑moving tide that lifts many boats: more players, more eyes on post‑launch content, and a bump in microtransaction visibility if Pearl Abyss follows familiar MMO monetization paths.
If you’re hedging: wait for the official announcement or try to catch post‑launch discounts. Track Microsoft Store updates, Pearl Abyss’ Twitter and press releases, and Game Pass curator lists on Xbox Wire and the Xbox app.
Here’s what I recommend: decide whether you want to buy now or wait. Buying grants immediate access and supports the developer directly. Waiting may save you money if the game drops on Game Pass, but that’s a bet.
The pre‑order buzz felt like a Black Friday stampede, and that momentum will shape the business decisions behind any Game Pass offer — so where do you place your bet?