Pearl Abyss's upcoming open-world RPG Crimson Desert is generating excitement for its human-voiced performances and depth, with a former Rockstar developer predicting it could challenge Grand Theft Auto VI for game of the year. Marketing director Will Power confirmed that the game's voices are provided by actual human actors. The title is set for release on March 19, 2026.
In a recent interview on the Dropped Frames podcast, Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Power addressed concerns about voice acting in Crimson Desert, an open-world action RPG. Responding to host John Paul McDaniel, Power stated, "I'm not going to criticize other games, but all of our voices are done by humans." He added, "I'm refraining from saying that 100% of the NPCs have human voices [...] because if that's not the case for even one NPC, I don't want the internet to accuse me of lying. But yes, all the main NPCs and those in side quests have actors' voices."
The game supports voice acting in English, Korean, and Chinese, with additional languages reportedly in development. Power also highlighted Crimson Desert as a "premium experience" without microtransactions, distinguishing it from predecessor Black Desert Online.
Separately, former Rockstar Games animator Mike York, who worked on Grand Theft Auto V, praised Crimson Desert's potential during an interview reported by WCCFTech. "This game, this could be Game of the Year, okay. Mark my words," York said. He explained, "And the reason for that is because of how much you can get lost in this game... it really is a contender when it comes to all the cool stuff all this game kind of has to offer. If GTA VI drops the ball, this could be Game of the Year. If GTA VI wasn't here at all this year, this [Crimson Desert] would probably take Game of the Year, from what it looks like."
Crimson Desert features side quests, boss fights, rideable dragons, and mechanics like using trees to catapult into the sky. A hands-on demo at 2024's Gamescom impressed observers, though some noted overdone sparking effects in combat. As the March 19, 2026, release approaches, the title's emphasis on human elements stands out amid industry discussions on AI.
