Dev shuffle: Crimson Desert stays alive while DokeV levels up
Pearl Abyss has quietly started moving staff from Crimson Desert over to DokeV now that Crimson Desert’s launch heavy lifting is done. That doesn’t mean Crimson Desert is abandoned — patches, DLC and even work on a Switch 2 version are still in the pipeline — but the studio says its teams are being shuffled so DokeV gets a bigger push.
The company told investors it won’t break down exact headcounts, but confirmed development resources are being reallocated as operations stabilize. And yes, they gave a rough target: DokeV is aiming for a release window in the second half of 2028.
What DokeV is, when we’ll see more, and why it matters
DokeV is an open-world RPG where you catch and roll with creatures called Dokebi — little embodiments of human passions and dreams — while engaging in real-time combat. It first popped up in 2019 and has been slowly simmering since.
Pearl Abyss says the studio learned a lot from working on Crimson Desert, and that experience is smoothing DokeV’s development. Expect a proper promo cycle starting in the second half of 2027: gameplay reveals, demo appearances at events, and more media drops to chew on before that 2028 window.
Also worth noting: PLAN 8, another ambitious title from the studio, is still in concept phase, so don’t hold your breath for that one. For now, fans should be hyped but patient — the company appears to be betting the extra manpower will make DokeV feel polished when it finally lands.
