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Crimson Desert free trial: Xbox vs PS5 rules and expiry dates
November 1, 2026Crimson Desert Enhanced has a five-hour console trial, but Xbox access is open to all players while PlayStation requires a Premium or Deluxe membership.
Crimson Desert Enhanced has a five-hour free trial on Xbox and PlayStation, but the eligibility rules and expiry dates differ by platform. Pearl Abyss says the Xbox trial is available to all Xbox players and ends on January 7, 2027. PlayStation access requires PlayStation Plus Premium or Deluxe and remains available until October 29, 2027.
The offer is a time-limited trial of the Enhanced base game rather than an unrestricted demo. It can be used only once per account, does not include the Charting the Unknown DLC and cannot be restarted after the five hours expire. Progress can transfer to the full game if the player purchases it.
Crimson Desert trial requirements and end dates
| Platform | Who can play? | Listed end date |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox | All Xbox players; Pearl Abyss does not list Game Pass as a requirement | January 7, 2027 |
| PlayStation | PlayStation Plus Premium or Deluxe subscribers | October 29, 2027 |
Those details come from Pearl Abyss’s official trial notice. The wording matters on Xbox: the publisher describes the trial as available to all players rather than as a Game Pass benefit. Xbox Wire’s announcement summary also lists the Xbox offer as running from October 29, 2026 through January 7, 2027.
The PlayStation version is more restrictive because access is limited to Premium and Deluxe members. Its later end date gives eligible PlayStation players considerably longer to start the trial, while the Xbox offer closes first.
Is Charting the Unknown included?
No. Pearl Abyss says the trial covers only the Crimson Desert Enhanced base game. The Charting the Unknown DLC is not included, despite the trial being announced alongside content related to that expansion.
The five-hour limit is also tied to a one-use restriction. Pearl Abyss states: The trial is limited to one use per account. Once you’ve played for 5 hours, it ends and can’t be restarted.
Players therefore cannot reset the timer on the same account or treat the offer as a replayable demo. The official notice does not explain whether time continues to count while the game is paused, in a menu or suspended.
Does Crimson Desert trial progress carry over?
Yes. Pearl Abyss confirms: Your trial progress carries over to the full game when you purchase it.
The confirmation applies to progress from the base-game trial; the announcement does not provide additional details about edition-specific entitlements or upgrades.
Players will need to check the relevant console storefront to locate the offer because Pearl Abyss’s announcement does not include direct US PlayStation Store or Xbox Store trial links.
Which console offer is better?
Xbox has the broader eligibility because Pearl Abyss makes the trial available to all Xbox players, but its January 7, 2027 end date arrives sooner. PlayStation players have until October 29, 2027, although access is restricted to PlayStation Plus Premium or Deluxe subscribers.
On either platform, the practical limits are otherwise the same: five hours with the Enhanced base game, one use per account, no Charting the Unknown DLC and save carryover after purchasing the full game.
For additional game updates, see TheDashDouble’s coverage of Crimson Desert’s May 2026 boss-rematch update and an earlier Crimson Desert quality-of-life patch.
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