Crimson Desert Modders Add Female Protagonist With 98 Face Presets

Just three weeks after the launch of Crimson Desert, modders have created a female character creator from scratch. This new mod includes 98 face presets and 159 hairstyles. It comes in response to the frustration from many players that Pearl Abyss released a $69.99 action-RPG without offering a gender selection option. The mod reimagines the main character as “Jane Desert,” a twist on the locked male hero Kliff. It’s gained enough traction to inspire a community rallying cry: “F*** John Desert.”

The scale of the mod is impressive. With 98 face presets and 159 hairstyles, it rivals the customization options found in dedicated character-creator games. The creators didn’t just tweak Pearl Abyss’s systems; they developed a completely separate set of assets. This shows a significant technical commitment from the modding community, rather than just a quick cosmetic change.

Pearl Abyss’s choice to limit Crimson Desert to a single male protagonist has drawn comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077, which allowed players to create any character they wanted in Night City. As IGN pointed out, players are “still beyond confused why they didn’t go the Cyberpunk route.” This comparison stings more because Pearl Abyss’s earlier title, Black Desert Online, features one of the deepest character creation systems in the genre.

Despite the controversy, players are still showing up. Crimson Desert boasts 197,773 concurrent players on Steam and holds an 86% positive rating from 57,810 reviews — a solid start. However, keeping players engaged often relies on giving them choices and maintaining community goodwill. The popularity of the mod suggests that a segment of the playerbase sees the male-only protagonist as a significant oversight, not just a limitation.

Pearl Abyss has yet to comment on the mod or whether they plan to introduce a female protagonist or a more expansive character creation system in future updates. Since launch, the studio has released patches that improved controls, which several reviewers noted as a problem early on. Still, there’s been no mention of protagonist options on the public roadmap. With the Jane Desert mod now available, the pressure for an official response will likely increase.

By The Numbers

Steam Review Score	86% positive
Total Steam Reviews	57,810
Current Concurrent Players	197,773
Launch Price (Steam)	$69.99
Female Mod Face Presets	98
Female Mod Hairstyles	159

Overall, community reception for the base game remains largely positive despite the ongoing debate about the protagonist. One Steam reviewer expressed their satisfaction simply: “Masculine man with a sword. It’s that easy.” Another user praised the post-launch patches for improving the experience: “The game is amazing. The controls for me clicked after the patches and a few hours although I play pad for these types of games. Take the time to learn it rather than complain.” This divide — between satisfied players embracing Pearl Abyss’s vision and frustrated players creating their own solutions — illustrates the game’s current state just three weeks after launch.

What To Watch

• Whether Pearl Abyss will acknowledge the mod or make an official statement regarding protagonist options, especially as the Jane Desert mod gains traction in major outlets like GamesRadar.
• How many players adopt the mod — if the Jane Desert creator becomes a top-downloaded mod on Nexus or Steam Workshop, it will provide Pearl Abyss with solid data on demand for female protagonist options.
• Long-term player retention rates, since IGN’s coverage raises a broader industry question about whether fixed-protagonist action-RPGs can satisfy audiences expecting modern character agency.