Black Desert is free to play on Xbox and PS5 this weekend

Anticipation for Crimson Desert is reaching a fever pitch ahead of its scheduled March 19 debut. To bridge the gap until this highly awaited RPG arrives, developer Pearl Abyss is offering a gift to console gamers. For a limited window, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners can immerse themselves in the world of Black Desert entirely free of charge.

Black Desert is a sprawling MMORPG renowned for its diverse gameplay loop. Players seeking a tranquil experience can delve into intricate “Life Skills” such as alchemy, horse breeding, fishing, and gourmet cooking. Conversely, those craving adrenaline can engage in fluid, high-octane hack-and-slash combat or participate in massive, strategic siege-based PvP conflicts.

While the titles share a linguistic root, Crimson Desert and Black Desert are now distinct entities—though that wasn’t always the plan. The project originally began its life as a prequel to the existing MMO. During development, Pearl Abyss pivoted, evolving the title into a standalone single-player IP. Early impressions suggest a game of staggering scale, with fans jokingly searching for features the game doesn’t include. One confirmed quality-of-life feature is the ability to breeze through cinematic cutscenes, catering to those who prefer to stay in the heat of the action.

If you are looking to kill time before the next chapter of Pearl Abyss’s legacy, the current free trial is the perfect opportunity. PlayStation 5 users can access the trial through March 8, with the added bonus that a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required. Xbox players have slightly more time to explore, with the free-to-play period extending until March 9.

Source: Polygon