Quick Answer: Summary of Steps
- Decide trial or purchase. PS Plus Premium/Deluxe members get a one-time 5-hour trial; everyone else buys Standard ($69.99) or Deluxe ($79.99).
- Free up storage. Plan for a large install (PC needs ~180 GB plus ~50 GB for the DLC; the PS5 size is unconfirmed).
- Download and update. Install from the PlayStation Store and accept every update so you are on the latest Enhanced version.
- Play to Howling Hill. The ocean storyline and ships in Charting the Unknown open after this main-story quest.
- Add the DLC. Buy Charting the Unknown ($24.99 / Rs 1,599) from the Buy DLC menu on the title screen, then update again.
Prerequisites & Materials Needed
Required tools & items
- A PS5, PS5 Digital Edition or PS5 Pro — there is no PS4 version
- A PlayStation Network account — for the store, trial and updates
- PS Plus Premium or Deluxe (optional) — only for the free 5-hour trial; not needed to play a purchased copy
- The game — Standard $69.99 / Rs 4,499 or Deluxe $79.99 / Rs 5,129 on 31 Oct 2026, or a PS5 disc
- Plenty of free SSD space — PS5 size unconfirmed; PC needs about 180 GB
- Broadband internet — for the download and the Enhanced and DLC updates
Estimated time
- Preparation: About 10 minutes to check PS Plus, storage and edition
- Execution: About 10 minutes of setup plus several hours of download time
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Choose the trial or buy the game
The trial lets you test the game for free, and your save carries over if you buy.
- Execute: open the PlayStation Store, search for Crimson Desert Enhanced and look for the Game Trial button if you have PS Plus Premium or Deluxe.
- If there is no trial button, or you have already decided, choose Standard ($69.99) or Deluxe ($79.99) and buy it.
- Pro Tip: On PS5 the Standard edition already includes the PlayStation-exclusive Grotevant Plate Set, so Deluxe is only worth it for the extra cosmetics.
- Look out for: The trial is one use per account and stops after 5 hours of play. It does not include Charting the Unknown.
How you know it worked: The game shows in your Game Library under Purchased or as a trial.
Step 2: Free up storage space
Crimson Desert is one of the larger games on PS5, and the DLC adds more.
- Execute: go to Settings › Storage › Console Storage and check the free space.
- Delete games you have finished, or move PS4 games to USB storage to make room on the internal SSD.
- Pro Tip: An extra M.2 SSD is the cleanest fix if you are always short of space.
- Look out for: PS5 games must run from the internal SSD or an M.2 expansion SSD, not from USB.
How you know it worked: You have well over 200 GB free before you start.
Step 3: Download and update to the latest version
Pearl Abyss says mismatched game and DLC versions can crash the game.
- Execute: select Download in the store or Game Library and track it in Downloads/Uploads.
- Once installed, highlight the game, press Options and choose Check for Update before the first launch.
- Pro Tip: Leave the PS5 in Rest Mode with Stay Connected to the Internet on so updates install overnight.
- Look out for: If the download stalls at 0%, pause and resume it, or see our PS5 download stuck guide.
How you know it worked: The title screen loads and shows the Buy DLC option.
Step 4: Play through to Howling Hill
The expansion is woven into the main story, so most of it stays locked until you progress.
- Execute: start a new game, or continue from your trial save, and follow the main story until the quest "Howling Hill".
- Set up your Greymane Camp there, which unlocks the ship questline.
- Pro Tip: Switch between Kliff, Oongka and Damiane once they join; each has its own weapons and side quests.
- Look out for: Greymane faction quests currently cannot progress as Damiane or Oongka (Known Issues). Switch to Kliff for those.
How you know it worked: Your journal shows Howling Hill completed and the camp is available.
Step 5: Buy and download Charting the Unknown
The DLC adds the ocean, ships, romance, castles and the Garden of Trials.
- Execute: go to the title screen, choose Buy DLC and purchase Charting the Unknown ($24.99 / Rs 1,599), or buy it on the PlayStation Store.
- Let the add-on download, then check for updates again so the game and DLC match.
- Pro Tip: Diving has no unlock conditions, so you can try it as soon as the DLC is installed.
- Look out for: Castles, character stories and the Garden of Trials open only after the main story.
How you know it worked: The ocean storyline appears in your journal after Howling Hill.
In brief: To play Crimson Desert on PS5, either start the free 5-hour trial (PS Plus Premium or Deluxe members) or buy Crimson Desert Enhanced on the PlayStation Store ($69.99 Standard, $79.99 Deluxe; Rs 4,499 / Rs 5,129 in India). Install it, let it update to the latest version, then add the Charting the Unknown expansion ($24.99 / Rs 1,599) from the in-game Buy DLC menu when you reach the main-story quest "Howling Hill". Prices checked on the PlayStation Store on 31 October 2026.
By Tulasiram Pemmadi · NextPlayIntel · Last updated 31 October 2026.
This guide is for the PS5 (standard, Digital Edition and Pro). Crimson Desert has no PS4 version. If you are still deciding whether to buy it at all, read our Crimson Desert explainer first. Store links for every platform are on the game page.
Which route is right for you
You have… | Best route | Cost on 31 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
PS Plus Premium or Deluxe | Start the 5-hour trial, buy later if you like it | Free (trial) |
PS Plus Essential or Extra, or no PS Plus | Buy Standard or Deluxe | $69.99 / $79.99 |
A Crimson Desert PS5 disc | Insert it and install (disc needed to play) | None |
The PS5 Digital Edition | Buy digitally, or add the disc drive for a physical copy | As above |
The base game already | Add Charting the Unknown | $24.99 |
The UK PlayStation Store charges £54.99 for Standard and £64.99 for Deluxe; Germany charges €69.99 and €79.99. The DLC is €24.99 in Germany; we could not read its UK price, so that is unconfirmed.
Trial or full game?
Pearl Abyss's trial is generous but has rules:
It lasts 5 hours of play and can be used once per account. When the time is used, it cannot be restarted.
On PlayStation it is for PS Plus Premium and Deluxe members only, and it is available until 29 October 2027.
It covers only the base game. Charting the Unknown is not in the trial.
Your progress carries over to the full game when you buy it, so you do not have to replay the opening.
Crimson Desert is a single-player game, so you do not need PS Plus to play it once you own it. PS Plus is needed only for the trial.
Standard or Deluxe on PS5?
Both contain the full game. On PS5 the Standard edition also includes the Grotevant Plate Set (helm, armour, cloak, gloves and boots), which is exclusive to PlayStation. Deluxe adds the Kairos Plate Set, the Balgran Shield and the Exclaire horse tack set. All of it is cosmetic or early-game gear; none of it is needed to finish the story. For most people, Standard is the better buy.
Storage and performance
Sony and Pearl Abyss do not publish the PS5 install size on the store page, so we mark it unconfirmed. The PC version needs about 180 GB and the DLC about 50 GB, so plan for a similar amount and free up space first. If your console is full, our PS5 M.2 SSD install guide explains how to add storage. PS5 games cannot be played from USB storage, only stored there (see PS5 games and USB storage).
Getting the Charting the Unknown DLC
Pearl Abyss says you can buy and download the expansion from the "Buy DLC" menu on the game's title screen, as well as from the PlayStation Store. It needs the base game, and it only appears in the world once you have made enough story progress:
Ocean storyline: opens after the main-story quest "Howling Hill".
Ships: open once your Greymane Camp is set up at Howling Hill.
Character stories, castles and the Garden of Trials: open after the main story.
Diving: no unlock condition.
Release times and the full feature list are in our NPI News report on Charting the Unknown's release time and price.
For players in India
PlayStation Store India (31 October 2026): Standard Rs 4,499, Deluxe Rs 5,129, Charting the Unknown Rs 1,599. No discount was running.
DLC launch: it unlocked at 3:30 a.m. IST on 30 October 2026.
PS Plus in India: the trial is for Premium/Deluxe-level members. Check your tier under Settings › Users and Accounts › Account › Payment and Subscriptions before you look for it.
Big download: start it before bed and leave the PS5 in Rest Mode with "Stay Connected to the Internet" on.
Still stuck?
The download will not start or stalls: see PS5 download stuck.
The game will not start or shows an error code: see PS5 game won't start and our Crimson Desert troubleshooting guide.
The game says it is locked after you bought it: try restoring PS5 licences.
Pre-order or purchase refunds: PlayStation Store refunds explained.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying Deluxe for an advantage. Its extras are cosmetic and early-game gear; Standard has the full game.
- Buying the DLC on day one of a new save. Most of it stays locked until Howling Hill or the end of the main story.
- Skipping updates. A base game and DLC on different versions can crash, Pearl Abyss warns.
- Expecting the trial to include the DLC. The trial covers only the base game and can be used once.
- Thinking you need PS Plus to play. It is single-player; PS Plus is only needed for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial of Crimson Desert on PS5?
Yes. PS Plus Premium and Deluxe members get a one-time 5-hour trial until 29 October 2027.
Does trial progress carry over?
Yes. Your save continues in the full game when you buy it.
Do I need PS Plus to play Crimson Desert?
No. It is single-player; PS Plus is only needed for the trial.
Is Crimson Desert on PS4?
No. It is on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mac.
When can I play the DLC?
The ocean storyline opens after the main quest "Howling Hill"; castles and the Garden of Trials after the main story.
How much is Crimson Desert on PS5?
$69.99 Standard and $79.99 Deluxe in the US; Rs 4,499 and Rs 5,129 in India (31 Oct 2026).
Sources & verification
Sources last verified on . This article covers published information, not hands-on testing.
- PlayStation Store US: Crimson Desert Enhanced
- PlayStation Store India: Crimson Desert Enhanced
- PlayStation Store US: Charting the Unknown
- Pearl Abyss: Charting the Unknown is now available, including Apple Mac (29 Oct 2026)
- Pearl Abyss: Charting the Unknown release notice
- Pearl Abyss: Crimson Desert Known Issues (updated 30 Oct 2026)
- Pearl Abyss Support: Before submitting your report
- Steam: Crimson Desert Enhanced (3321460), US/UK/DE/India prices and PC requirements
- PlayStation Plus: plans and online multiplayer
- NPI News: Charting the Unknown release time and price
Editorial & update notes
Published 31 Oct 2026 with US, UK, EU and India prices checked that day on the official stores (Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop).
