Crimson Desert DLC Lets Players Explore Pywel’s Ocean

Pearl Abyss is diving into the ocean with Crimson Desert. The upcoming DLC will give players the chance to explore Pywel’s ocean, as reported by DualShockers, which described the expansion as going “full Subnautica.” This marks the first time the open-world action RPG encourages players to head toward the water instead of avoiding it.

The details are still sparse. The DualShockers article confirms the focus on ocean exploration but provides little more. Pearl Abyss hasn’t shared a release date, price, or content breakdown, so treat the Subnautica comparison more like a catchy headline than a detailed feature list.

It’s wise to be cautious about that comparison. Subnautica revolves around survival, depth pressure, and the fear of the unknown lurking below. Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026, as an Action RPG, and current reports don’t mention any survival mechanics in the DLC. The similarities seem to focus on the scope and setting rather than gameplay mechanics.

This timing follows a trend. Explosion has previously covered Charting the Unknown, which expands Pywel, alongside Pearl Abyss’s comment that critics reviewed an older build of the game. Adding ocean content is part of a post-launch effort to expand the map while the studio addresses feedback about the launch quality.

The player base gives Pearl Abyss a solid reason to continue developing content. Crimson Desert boasts an 86% positive rating from 80,800 Steam reviews. It’s priced at $69.99, which sets high expectations for any paid add-ons.

The Subnautica name is also trending for other reasons. Subnautica 2 is set to introduce a new region to explore, making the timing fortuitous for discussions about underwater games. However, this is just a coincidence, with no direct link between the two projects.

By The Numbers

Release Date	March 19, 2026
Developer / Publisher	Pearl Abyss
Steam Reviews	86% positive (80,800 reviews)
Current Price (Steam)	$69.99
Current Steam Players	7,289

Community Pulse

The community’s response across 10 tracked signals is mostly positive, with exploration receiving much of the praise. One enthusiastic Steam reviewer noted, “It is so easy to just get lost in exploration and side quests!” An ocean to explore directly caters to that desire, but with only 7,289 concurrent players, Pearl Abyss needs fresh content to bring back those who’ve lapsed.

What To Watch

• Official details: Pearl Abyss still needs to clarify the DLC’s release date, price, and whether it will be paid or free content.
• Mechanics: Keep an eye out for any confirmation regarding underwater traversal, combat, or survival systems, as these would clarify how closely the DLC aligns with Subnautica.
• Player count response: An increase in concurrent players above the current 7,289 after the full reveal would indicate whether ocean content can re-engage the player base.