Pearl Abyss has released a free five-hour trial of Crimson Desert Enhanced for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S players, allowing them to experience the action-adventure game without purchasing it. The trial is available to all Xbox players until January 7, 2027, with progress carrying over to the full game if they decide to buy it.
The developer confirmed the trial in an October 29 announcement accompanying the launch of Charting the Unknown, the game’s latest downloadable expansion. PlayStation players can also access the five-hour trial, although eligibility is restricted to PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe subscribers.
Unlike the PlayStation offering, the Xbox trial does not require a premium subscription. Players can find it by searching for Crimson Desert Enhanced on the Xbox Store and selecting the free trial option.
Pearl Abyss confirmed that the trial includes the Crimson Desert Enhanced base game but excludes the newly released Charting the Unknown DLC. Each account can access the trial only once, meaning players cannot restart the five-hour allowance after using it.
Any progress made during the trial transfers to the purchased version, allowing players to continue their adventure rather than starting again. The developer has also established different availability deadlines for each platform. Xbox players have until January 7, 2027, to access the trial, while eligible PlayStation subscribers have until October 29, 2027.
The trial arrives alongside the release of Charting the Unknown, an expansion that introduces a vast explorable ocean, islands, ships and underwater environments. The DLC adds new areas beyond the original game’s world, although players must purchase the expansion separately to access its content.
For Xbox Series X|S owners who have not purchased Crimson Desert, the trial provides an opportunity to evaluate the game’s exploration, combat and overall gameplay before committing to the full release. Its five-hour limit also gives returning players a defined window to experience the Enhanced version, provided they have not already used the trial on their account.
The free trial is available now through the Xbox Store under Crimson Desert Enhanced, with the Xbox offer scheduled to end on January 7, 2027.
