Can *Crimson Desert* Really Compete for GOTY? Its Biggest Obstacle Is *GTA6*!

It’s exploded! These reviews are seriously brutal!

Crimson Desert hasn’t officially kicked off yet, but the hype is already at full throttle. Pearl Abyss’s open-world action RPG launches tomorrow, and with the media review embargo just lifted, former Rockstar developer Mike York has directly pushed expectations way higher. Here’s the key part: this guy is no random reviewer. He worked on the animation for Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, so he’s definitely an industry insider who’s seen the big leagues.

His stance in his latest YouTube video is crystal clear. In his view, Crimson Desert absolutely has what it takes to compete for 2026 GOTY. And his reasoning is pretty straightforward—not empty hype, but genuine confidence in its immersion and the kind of densely packed, visually impressive experience it offers. Put simply, it looks like the kind of game that instantly pulls you in once you start playing, and those are exactly the kinds of titles that go wild during awards season at the end of the year.

But! The real final boss isn’t some other new release—it’s GTA 6. Mike York was very realistic about that too: if GTA 6 arrives on schedule this November, then Crimson Desert trying to go head-to-head with it would be like jumping straight into nightmare mode. Unless Rockstar completely fumbles the story, or some extreme situation happens that blows up player sentiment worldwide in the opposite direction, this mountain will be incredibly hard to move.

Is that brutal? Absolutely. But it’s also true. Rockstar’s hype over the past decade-plus is like an ultimate charge bar—far beyond what most games can even touch. And on top of that, GTA 6 still isn’t here yet, so the suspense is only continuing to build. Meanwhile, Crimson Desert is right on the verge of release. What it needs to do now is heat things up with word of mouth first and firmly lock down its spot as “one of this year’s most worthwhile open-world games.”

What’s even more interesting is that it’s not just Mike York praising it. Some media reviews have also mentioned that the game contains “elements of genius and wonder.” And what does that mean? It means Crimson Desert is at least not one of those games that markets itself hard but delivers nothing underneath. It’s actually bringing something genuinely eye-catching to the table.

My take is simple: if you already love open worlds, action RPGs, and immersive experiences, then Crimson Desert deserves serious attention and could even go straight onto your day-one watchlist. There are two things to watch next: first, whether player reception stays solid after tomorrow’s official launch; second, whether GTA 6 really does arrive on time this November a few months from now. The former determines whether Crimson Desert can hold its ground; the latter determines whether it can become legendary.

So here’s the question: can Crimson Desert defeat GTA6? If we’re making the call right now, I can only say this: under normal circumstances, basically no chance. But does that mean there’s zero possibility? Not necessarily. After all, that’s the most exciting thing about the gaming world—until the awards are handed out, everyone gets to dream. So, guys, whose side are you on this time? Personally, I think Crimson Desert shouldn’t rush to challenge the king just yet. If it can first establish itself as a dark horse, that alone would already make this one hell of a performance.