Crimson Desert's Charting the Unknown DLC Officially Delayed

Published Sep 30, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT Austin Manchester is a writer and editor living in New York City. At Polygon, he covers gaming and entertainment news, reviews new video games, interviews behind-the-scenes talent, and more. He enjoys discovering hidden gems and sharing them with Polygon's audience. Previously, he was the gaming editor for AIPT Comics and has written for other outlets like XDA, How-To Geek, and The List. He enjoys soulslikes, character-driven RPGs, and third-person shooters plucked straight out of the Xbox 360 era. He also likes to flex his non-video game nerdy knowledge sometimes, whether that's explaining who's who in the new Wolverine game or recommending a comic book series about a sentient sword. Developer Pearl Abyss wants to ensure the expansion is 'polished and stable' Image: Pearl Abyss Sign in to your Polygon.com account Crimson Desert is one of 2026's biggest games, both in terms of its explorable open world and its reach; it has sold over six million copies. It's no surprise, then, that developer Pearl Abyss' RPG is going to get even bigger with an upcoming expansion. However, players are going to have to wait just a bit longer to dive into that DLC. On Wednesday, Pearl Abyss announced the Charting the Unknown expansion will be delayed two weeks from Oct. 15 to its new Oct. 29 release date. "We have determined that we need additional development time to deliver a more polished and stable gameplay experience," Pearl Abyss wrote in a message posted to Steam and its social media accounts. "We know many of you have been looking forward to returning to the game and we sincerely apologize for the longer wait. We will use the additional time to further refine the content and do our utmost to deliver the best experience we can." Charting the Unknown expansion details Pearl Abyss confirmed that it was working on Crimson Desert DLC back in June, and it got a proper reveal in September during Sony's most recent State of Play showcase. Crimson Desert's Pywel is already filled to the brim with things to do, and Charting the Unknown expands its scope to the open waters. Channel your inner Edward Kenway and sail across the ocean. Dive underwater to search for treasure, explore ruins, and ride a shark. You'll also be able to build homes and other properties and get romantic with the people of Pywel. "New stories unfold across Pywel — from an ominous presence in the desert and a dangerous political conflict to a journey beyond time and an ancient secret beneath the waves. Follow Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane as they forge their own paths forward, discover their purpose, and shape their destinies," reads the official description. Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown will be released Oct. 29 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.