Witcher 3 Director Praises Crimson Desert's Emotional Depth Beyond Story

Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the director behind the acclaimed "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," has shared his thoughts on Pearl Abyss's upcoming title, "Crimson Desert." While acknowledging that "Crimson Desert" may not be a "story heavy" game, Tomaszkiewicz believes it can evoke "totally different emotions" by focusing on exploration and "RPG things."

Key Takeaways

• "Crimson Desert" prioritizes exploration, systems, and "RPG things" over a heavy narrative.
• The game's approach can achieve diverse emotional experiences for players.
• Tomaszkiewicz draws parallels between modern game diversity and the '90s RPG landscape.

A Different Kind of RPG Experience

Tomaszkiewicz, who is now leading development at Rebel Wolves for "The Blood of Dawnwalker," stated in a recent interview that he plays a wide variety of games to stay current with industry trends. He specifically mentioned "Crimson Desert," noting his interest in how Pearl Abyss handles player freedom from a systems perspective. He highlighted that despite not being story-driven, the game offers a unique and engaging experience.

"The game mostly pays attention to exploration, to systems, RPG things, and so on," Tomaszkiewicz explained. "It's really interesting. And I think that most of our studio is playing the same way as I do."

Echoes of the '90s RPG Golden Age

Tomaszkiewicz also drew comparisons between the current diverse gaming landscape and the '90s, a period he considers the "golden age" for RPGs. He recalled how games like "Eye of the Beholder" and "Betrayal at Krondor," despite sharing the RPG genre, offered vastly different gameplay experiences.

"When we spoke about the games from last year and this year, like Crimson Desert, Dispatch, Clair Obscur," Tomaszkiewicz said, "it reminds me of the '90s, early '90s, where every game which appears was sometimes similar in the meaning of genre, but really different in the meaning of how you control this game, how you experience stuff."

He believes that modern developers are once again embracing this diversity, allowing for AAA titles with an "indie feel" and offering "unknown experiences" that break away from the homogeneity that sometimes characterized games in recent years.

A Passion for RPGs

Tomaszkiewicz reiterated his deep passion for the RPG genre, emphasizing that it's his sole focus. He stated that even if offered the chance to develop an MMO, racing game, or shooter, he would decline, preferring to dedicate his creative energy to crafting RPGs as a form of art.

"I love RPG games so much," he concluded, "that if you told me, 'Okay, we have a new company, we have money, and come to me and do an MMO,' I will not go. I will not go to do racing games or shooters, because these kinds of [RPGs] are something which is inside me, and this is what I want to create as a piece of art."