Crimson Desert reportedly initially started out as an MMO but later pivoted to a single-player open-world game, although it still has much of its MMO DNA, even though it launched as a single-player title. According to Pearl Abyss CEO, Heo Jin-young, at a recent corporate briefing, the studio is currently evaluating the possibility of an online mode for Crimson Desert.

Jin-young commented that it is still too early to make any conclusive statements about what form a multiplayer Crimson Desert will take, with the CEO clarifying that, although he has noted significant interest in multiplayer, the studio is conducting technical and gameplay feasibility studies to determine if multiplayer is possible and how to implement it. Jin-young expressed that he thinks there is room for a multiplayer mode, and he notes that online gameplay could increase player retention and the game's longevity on the market.