The Witcher 3 Director Says Crimson Desert Recaptures the RPG Golden Age

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and current lead developer on Blood of Dawnwalker, publicly praised Crimson Desert for recapturing the design philosophy of 1990s RPGs. His comments underscore the game's cultural standing among major RPG titles released in 2026.

The Quote

Tomaszkiewicz told GamesRadar:

"I'm playing Crimson Desert and checking how they approach freedom from the system perspective, because it's a different type of game, different type of RPG, but also really interesting when you play it, because you see that you can achieve totally different emotions with the game [without being] story heavy."

He expanded on the broader trend, noting that games like Crimson Desert and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remind him of the 1990s, when RPGs offered diverse experiences within the same genre. That era celebrated multiple valid approaches to RPG design — narrative-driven games competed with exploration-first games, and both found audiences.

What This Means for Crimson Desert

Tomaszkiewicz's comment is significant for several reasons:

1. Design validation: A veteran director publicly endorsing your system design is a form of peer recognition. It signals that Crimson Desert's emphasis on exploration and freedom rather than linear storytelling is intentional and effective.

2. Positioning in the 2026 RPG landscape: By comparing Crimson Desert to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (another high-profile 2026 RPG release), Tomaszkiewicz places it in the conversation with major titles. This elevates its cultural visibility.

3. Emotional design philosophy: Tomaszkiewicz specifically noted that the game achieves "different emotions" through freedom-based systems rather than storytelling. This validates the core design pillars of Crimson Desert — exploration, choice, and moment-to-moment gameplay — as emotionally resonant even without a driven narrative.

The 1990s RPG Parallel

The comparison to the 1990s RPG golden age is revealing. That era (roughly 1992–2000) produced wildly different RPGs:

• Story-heavy: Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Cross, Planescape: Torment
• Exploration-focused: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002, close enough), Diablo II (1999)
• Action-hybrid: Vagrant Story, Kingdom Hearts
• Open-world freedom: Ultima Online, early MMO design

Each was a "true RPG" despite radically different approaches. Tomaszkiewicz is arguing that 2026 is revisiting that era of experimentation, where diverse design philosophies coexist rather than converging on a single formula.

Pearl Abyss's Implicit Strategy

This comment reflects Pearl Abyss's long-stated design direction: deliver an ARPG that prioritizes moment-to-moment exploration and freedom over cutscenes and quest-line pacing. Some players prefer story-driven RPGs like Final Fantasy XVI. Crimson Desert is not targeting that audience — it's targeting players who want to get into the world and feel through gameplay, not cinematics.

Tomaszkiewicz's endorsement validates that strategy works.

Context: Tomaszkiewicz's Current Work

Tomaszkiewicz is in development on Blood of Dawnwalker, a new IP from CD Projekt Red. His current project emphasizes, from public statements, a similar philosophy: immersion through interaction rather than narrative dominance. His interest in Crimson Desert's design may inform his own work.

FAQ

Is Konrad Tomaszkiewicz endorsing Crimson Desert?

Yes and no. He's publicly praising its design philosophy, not explicitly recommending it as a product. This is a technical/design-level compliment, not a consumer endorsement.

Will this boost Crimson Desert's sales?

Hard to say. Tomaszkiewicz's audience is primarily game developers and industry enthusiasts. The comment may not penetrate casual players. However, it may influence indie and mid-tier developers choosing their design direction for 2026–2027 RPGs.

What does "freedom from the system perspective" mean?

It means the game's rules and mechanics allow player choice without restricting outcomes through narrow quest design. In other words, the system design itself enables freedom rather than the story pretending to offer choice while railroading the player.

Is Crimson Desert story-light?

Yes, relative to Final Fantasy XVI or The Witcher 3. It has a world, NPCs, and lore, but the narrative is not the primary delivery mechanism for emotion. Exploration, combat, and discovery are.

How does this compare to other 2026 RPGs?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (published May 2026) is the closest peer. Both are action-RPGs launching in 2026 with emphasis on exploration and systems-based design. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Final Chapter is more narrative-focused.

Conclusion

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz's comments position Crimson Desert within a lineage of 1990s RPG design philosophy, where diverse approaches to the genre were celebrated. This validates Pearl Abyss's core design decisions and suggests the game is achieving its intended emotional delivery through systems and exploration rather than narrative alone. For players seeking that type of experience, the director's endorsement is a strong signal.

What to read next

• Crimson Desert 5 Million Sales Milestone Explained
• Crimson Desert: Should You Return After April Updates?
• What Pearl Abyss May Improve Next

Research Notes / Sources

• GamesRadar, "The Witcher 3 director says games like Crimson Desert and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 take him back to the RPG golden age of the 90s", published May 4, 2026: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/the-witcher-3-director-says-games-like-crimson-desert-and-clair-obscur-expedition-33-take-him-back-to-the-rpg-golden-age-of-the-90s/
• Last checked: May 6, 2026.