Crimson Desert on Nintendo Switch 2: Pearl Abyss Confirms Early Development Progress

Pearl Abyss Confirms Early Switch 2 Work on Crimson Desert South Korean developer-publisher Pearl Abyss has confirmed that its open-world action-adventure Crimson Desert is under active research and development for the Nintendo Switch 2. The company provided the update during a recent corporate briefing and Q&A with shareholders, reiterating that platform expansion is being evaluated but remains at an early technical stage. Crimson Desert, developed and published by Pearl Abyss, launched on PlayStation 5 in March. Following that launch, our sibling site Push Square reported that the PS5 release encountered significant performance and graphical issues. Pearl Abyss has issued multiple updates to address those problems since then. According to CEO Heo Jin-Young's remarks in the shareholder Q&A, the Switch 2 build has progressed to the point where core gameplay mechanics are operational, but substantial work remains. Heo explained that the project has reached a stage in development where basic gameplay is functional, yet emphasised that bringing Crimson Desert to Nintendo's next-gen hardware is not a simple straightforward port. The team must ensure the title preserves its graphics, action responsiveness, and open-world systems on the target device, and that requires further optimisation and technical verification. Heo also noted that Pearl Abyss is reviewing partner collaboration and internal quality standards as part of the evaluation process. Because of those outstanding technical checks and external coordination requirements, the company said it is not in a position to confirm a release schedule. Pearl Abyss committed to announcing any confirmed information transparently when development milestones are met. This update confirms Pearl Abyss's intention to explore platform expansion for Crimson Desert and highlights the challenges developers face when adapting large-scale open-world games to new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2. For now, the Switch 2 effort remains in development and subject to optimisation, verification, and partner review. Pearl Abyss's future announcements will determine whether and when Crimson Desert reaches Nintendo's storefronts such as the eShop or receives promotion through events like Nintendo Direct.