A new features overview video for the upcoming DLC of Crimson Desert has been released. Charting The Unknown, the new paid DLC for the open world adventure by Pearl Abyss that just released earlier this year, is adding more content, as if the base game hasn’t gotten enough. It’s substantial additions, too.
The DLC itself is framed as post-game content, as protagonists Kliff, Damiane and Oongka are all searching on what’s next after “the fight for the Greymanes and Pywel.”
The video teases Kliff reuniting with the two witches from the east that showed him a path to the titular Crimson Desert, Damiane continuing her search by fighting more Demeniss goons, and Oongka now studying at the Scholastone.
The big new feature in Crimson Desert Enhanced: Charting The Unknown is underwater exploration. You can swim in Crimson Desert, but never underwater. With the DLC, the large body of water to the south and east of Pywel, the Great Ocean of Pywel, is now an open world in itself as you can go underwater and explore the ocean depths. Make use of crafting diving gear, or hitch a ride on the local fauna to navigate underwater.
More locations, including islands and pirate havens have been added.
Shipbuilding is now added once you establish the Greymane Camp in the early game. Ships can be customised cosmetically. Ships can be controlled, and there are enemy ships.
Islands can be claimed as strongholds, making use of the dispatch system.
Charting The Unknown adds more life sim elements to Crimson Desert, including a full-blown relationship system. You can raise affinities with NPCs in the base game, but with the DLC, more ways to interact with NPCs are available. A new dialogue bubble UI, something like out of The Sims, can appear in some conversations. And yes, you can have the protagonists marry an NPC. In the video, Kliff is seen romancing and eventually marrying Bari, one of the five local Witches you’d encounter through the base game.
Trusted companions (i.e. NPCs with high affinity) can now drop by the Greymane camp to spend time together.
Liberated strongholds in Crimson Desert gets more features in Charting The Unknown DLC. Instead of just offering help to gain resources for the game through the dispatch system, the DLC lets you run and ,manage businesses. Facilities can be leased, equipment can be added to the location (making use of the furniture customisation feature seen in the base game to decorate your private house). Comrades can be hired to run the businesses and set their clothing uniform. Decide what goods to sell.
Home decoration, as teased in the reveal trailer, goes all-out The Sims. While previously only limited to one private house and furniture placements, Charting the Unknown DLC lets you build your own home including customisable interior layouts, doors and windows.
Liberated castles can be claimed, and freely decorated.
For those not looking to just sink time in the life sim aspects, Charting The Unknown DLC adds more or less a boss rush mode, where you can challenge previous bosses back-to-back as a combat gauntlet. Rewards available for besting them.
The Charting The Unknown DLC was supposed to be released by now, but Pearl Abyss delayed it from the original October 16 release to October 30 in Asia (October 29 in most parts of the world—it’s a simultaneous release).
Crimson Desert is now marketed as Crimson Desert Enhanced. A recent big update made swathes of improvements since launch, which also includes additional cutscenes and dialogues.
Crimson Desert Enhanced: Charting The Unknown DLC will be out on October 30 for the PS5, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X|S.