Crimson Desert clarifies its progression: it will not be an RPG and will not have levels or experience

The long-awaited action game confirms how skills, equipment and open world will work.

More stories in the category News

• Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass boasts five biomes in Japan and aims for its most ambitious map
• Steam Deck runs out of stock and the ROG Ally goes up in price in Japan: tension in the portable market review
• GTA 6 promises the greatest evolution of the saga and reignites expectation

In recent weeks, many doubts have arisen about the progression system in Crimson Desert. Now, its developers have made it clear how the game will really work, and the first thing to clarify is that it won’t be a traditional RPG.

Although it shares certain elements with the genre, the proposal falls within the action and adventure category, with a more direct focus and less centered on classic statistics. This completely changes the way the character will evolve throughout the game.

How progression will work in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert won’t include a leveling system or experience points. That is, there will be no traditional XP or level ups. Instead, progress will be based on discovery and exploration.

These are the confirmed points about its system:

• It’s not an RPG in the classical sense, despite sharing some structural elements.

• There will be no levels or experience to accumulate.

• New skills will be obtained by finding artifacts scattered throughout the world or learning techniques through missions.

• Equipment can be purchased or crafted.

• The world won’t be blocked by level, allowing for free exploration without artificial restrictions.

• The official genre is defined as action and adventure.

This approach aims for a more organic progression, focused on exploration and combat mastery rather than statistic accumulation. An approach that may set it apart from other recent open-world titles.