Crimson DesertExplainer
Release date
Crimson Desert DLC release date: Charting the Unknown comes out Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. ET for $24.99
Charting the Unknown, the first DLC for Crimson Desert, comes out on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, Pearl Abyss says. It costs $24.99 and unlocks at the same moment worldwide, 22:00 UTC. The expansion adds ships and sailing on the Great Ocean, underwater diving, three new storylines for Kliff, Oongka and Damiane, an upgraded Housing mode, castles, businesses to run and a boss rush called Garden of Trials. Pearl Abyss first set it for Oct. 15 and moved it two weeks for polish.
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox
Crimson Desert heads out to sea in its first paid expansion. Here’s when Charting the Unknown unlocks, what it costs and what you need to play it.
When does Charting the Unknown come out?
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET, on every platform at once, Pearl Abyss says:
| Region | Release time |
|---|---|
| US East | Oct. 29, 6 p.m. ET |
| US West | Oct. 29, 3 p.m. PT |
| UK and UTC | Oct. 29, 22:00 UTC |
| Central Europe | Oct. 29, 23:00 CET |
| Korea and Japan | Oct. 30, 7 a.m. KST and JST |
Pearl Abyss revealed the DLC on Sept. 3 for Oct. 15, then on Sept. 30 moved it two weeks to Oct. 29 to polish the content. Pre-orders are open on the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, Steam and the Epic Games Store.
How much is the Crimson Desert DLC?
$24.99 in the US, on every platform. Pre-orders get the Charter’s Diving Set for Kliff and Oongka and the Charter’s Light Diving Set for Damiane.
You need the base game, Crimson Desert Enhanced, which Steam lists at $69.99. Crimson Desert came out on March 19, 2026, and the free 2.00.00 update on Aug. 25 renamed it Crimson Desert Enhanced, with new cutscenes and dialogue, five more voice languages and new skills for Kliff.
Steam lists the DLC for Mac with an Apple M2 Pro chip or newer, but Pearl Abyss says it won’t be on the Mac App Store at launch, and it isn’t sold in some regions after content and age-rating reviews; pre-orders there are closed and refunded.
What’s in Charting the Unknown?
Three new storylines, one each for Kliff, Oongka and Damiane, start from the Journal menu after the main story. A fourth, ocean-focused storyline opens after the Howling Hill chapter.
- DivingAll three heroes can swim down to ruins, treasure chests, new creatures and mounts. Breath runs out underwater, and gear such as a diving suit keeps you down longer.
- ShipsAfter you set up the Greymane Camp at Howling Hill, a questline lets you build a ship through a dispatch mission at a port, or buy one from a Fleet Office manager, and sail the Great Ocean to new islands.
- RomanceCloser bonds with people of Pywel can turn into romance and marriage, and friends visit an upgraded camp.
Housing, castles, businesses and Garden of Trials
The upgraded Housing mode lets you build a house from the ground up after Luke’s Request in the Grounds of the Sunrise quest. Three castles can be claimed and decorated after the main story and their liberation missions.
You can rent and run businesses across Pywel, from a restaurant in Vellua to a smithy at Zargan Tankworks. Garden of Trials, open after the main questline, sends the bosses of your adventure at you one after another, with special rewards at the end.
A Twitch Drops event starts with the launch: Week 1 rewards go to everyone who owns the base game, and Week 2, from Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. PT through Nov. 11, is for DLC owners, with equipment, a pet and ship parts across the two weeks.
For more of the week’s launches, see our new games this week page, and for another big expansion, our Ghost of Yōtei DLC page.
This page is updated as soon as Pearl Abyss confirms preload times, patch notes or a Mac App Store release for Charting the Unknown.
FAQ
When does the Crimson Desert DLC come out?
On Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. PT. That’s 22:00 UTC, 23:00 CET and 7 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, in Korea and Japan, the same moment on every platform.
How much is Charting the Unknown?
$24.99 in the US on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Steam and the Epic Games Store. You need the base game, Crimson Desert Enhanced, which costs $69.99 on Steam.
Was the Crimson Desert DLC delayed?
Yes, by two weeks. Pearl Abyss announced it on Sept. 3, 2026, for Oct. 15, and on Sept. 30 moved it to Oct. 29 to polish the content.
What's the Crimson Desert pre-order bonus?
The Charter’s Diving Set for Kliff and Oongka and the Charter’s Light Diving Set for Damiane, for everyone who pre-orders the DLC.
What's in Charting the Unknown?
Three new storylines for Kliff, Oongka and Damiane, an ocean storyline, your own ship, diving and underwater ruins, romance and marriage, an upgraded Housing mode, three castles to claim, businesses to run and Garden of Trials, a fight against bosses back to back.
Do you need to finish Crimson Desert to play the DLC?
For most of it, yes. The three character stories and Garden of Trials open after the main story, while the ocean storyline opens after the Howling Hill chapter. Diving needs no special conditions.
Is the Crimson Desert DLC on Mac?
Yes, on Steam, which lists Mac support with an Apple M2 Pro chip or newer. Pearl Abyss says Charting the Unknown won’t be on the Mac App Store at launch and will post a separate notice if that changes.
What is Crimson Desert Enhanced?
The name of the base game since the free 2.00.00 update of Aug. 25, 2026, which added new cutscenes and dialogue, five more voice languages and new skills for Kliff. Owners got it at no cost.
Are there Twitch Drops for Charting the Unknown?
Yes. Week 1 starts at launch on Oct. 29 and gives rewards to everyone who owns the base game. Week 2 starts on Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. PT and runs through Nov. 11, with rewards for DLC owners, including a pet and ship parts across the event.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
When does Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown come out?
Pearl Abyss moved the DLC from Oct. 15 to Oct. 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET.
Your call
What are you most excited for in Charting the Unknown?
