Inven Global

Crimson Desert's first DLC, 'Charting the Unknown', has officially released. There is no need to worry if you have not finished the game yet. Open-world content such as ocean exploration and sailing unlocks once you set up and grow the Greymane Camp in Chapter 3. The only content that requires beating the main story is the new storylines for the three protagonists, the Garden of Trials, and the Greymane Castles.

Appearing on the U.S. gaming podcast 'Dropped Frames' on October 25 (local time), Marketing Director Will Powers explained these details and announced that Charting the Unknown would launch worldwide simultaneously at 7:00 AM KST on October 30 (3:00 PM PDT on October 29), and the DLC has now officially launched as scheduled. Inven has gathered key details worth knowing before jumping into the expansion. Based on interviews, official announcements, and video footage, we have organized everything in order from content accessible right upon purchase to content unlocked only after seeing the ending. Give this guide a quick read before setting out on your journey.

Ending Not RequiredEnjoying Various Oceanic Content

Director Powers explained that the DLC features two distinct entry points. While the storyline that takes place after the main game requires completing the story campaign, open-world content like exploration and sailing only requires establishing the Greymane Camp. He added that this separation was made to avoid spoiling players who are still enjoying the main narrative. "If you want open-world content, you can experience it very early in the game, and if you are a story-driven player, you have likely already seen the ending," he noted.

The very first new experience players can jump into is diving. According to official announcements, entering the ocean carries no special requirements. Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane can all plunge beneath the waves to uncover underwater ruins and treasure chests, as well as encounter new creatures and mounts.

However, breath steadily depletes while underwater. To stay submerged and explore longer, it is recommended to equip gear like diving suits beforehand. Maximum breath capacity can be increased through diving suit tempering, and new food items that temporarily restore breath, alongside ocean exploration gear mountable on the A.T.A.G., have also been added. Pre-order customers receive the 'Charter's Diving Set' for Kliff and Oongka and the 'Charter's Light Diving Set' for Damiane, so be sure to check your equipment upon logging in.

The preview video showcased scenes of swimming above coral reefs, navigating through submerged stone ruins, and inspecting shipwrecks beneath the sea.

Expectations should be kept in check, however. Director Powers pointed out that the entire ocean is not densely covered in coral reefs with secrets hidden around every corner. Instead, much like a real ocean, barren zones with sparse sealife are mixed with abundant areas. Nevertheless, thorough exploration will reveal worthwhile discoveries like hidden chests. Underwater exploration is focused on new regions and coastal boundary areas around the continent; he clarified that underwater mechanics have not been added to every pond in the base game's snowfield region. Locations discovered underwater are displayed directly on the existing world map without requiring a separate underwater map.

Ending Not RequiredGetting Closer to Residents and Even Marriage

The romance content also carries no main-ending requirement. However, certain NPCs require specific prerequisite conditions, and witches require completing quests at their respective sanctuaries. The three protagonists can interact with the residents of Pywel to build trust; by selecting 'Seduce' under 'Interact' and reaching an expanded affinity level of 100, you can choose 'Propose' to enter marriage. Using one protagonist to seduce a specific NPC and increase affinity will lower that NPC's affinity with the other protagonists, and divorcing after marriage comes with consequences, so choose carefully. In the video, players can see a wedding ceremony taking place beneath a floral arch surrounded by cheering guests. These relationships extend to the Greymane Camp. When running festival missions at the camp, characters who have reached a certain affinity level will visit for a limited time to spend time together.

Director Powers explained that even NPCs who are not marriage partners will visit the camp as long as you have built up affinity with them. If you open a diner, quest givers from the main story may stop by for a meal. Dialogue choices allowing conversations with all NPCs have also been added. However, he requested that players not expect deep branching dialogue on the level of Mass Effect or Baldur's Gate.

After Chapter 3Clearing Howling Hill Unlocks Ocean Quests

The new ocean questline, 'Beyond the Shores', unlocks after finishing the main story quest 'Howling Hill' and developing the Greymane Camp to a certain level. Howling Hill corresponds to Chapter 3 of the main story campaign, which consists of 14 chapters including prologue and epilogue. Even without beating the game, completing Chapter 3 and developing your camp lets you enjoy the ocean narrative early.

Director Powers also noted that establishing the Greymane Camp occurs in Chapter 3, describing it as a fairly early point in the base game.

The video introduces the ocean section under the title 'Beyond the Shores'. Clips follow showing sailing ships with black and red sails cutting through the open sea and traveling between islands. Pearl Abyss explained that defeating hostile forces on islands discovered during voyages and establishing outposts with Greymane comrades will earn players rewards.

After Chapter 3Establish the Camp and Acquire Your Own Ship

If you want to captain your own vessel, you must first establish the Greymane Camp at Howling Hill. Setting up the camp unlocks ship-related quests, and completing these quests allows you to build a ship. Camp construction takes place during the Chapter 3 main quest 'Homestead' at Howling Hill.

There are two ways to obtain a ship. You can either construct a sailing vessel yourself by sending companions on shipbuilding dispatch missions at ports, or purchase one directly from fleet managers across Pywel. Fleet managers in Demenes and Delecia sell ship equipment to customize your vessel, and players can also engage in maritime trade by buying and selling new trade goods using their ships.

There are also things to check before starting the DLC. Director Powers tipped that because building your first ship uses camp resources, stockpiling plenty of resources in advance will allow you to begin construction right away. Ships crafted this way start in an un-upgraded, basic state. While vessel size can be chosen relatively early, upgrading and customizing the hull, masts, and sails individually will take time. Boarding enemy ships to cut down crew members in hand-to-hand combat is also possible. On the other hand, while a fast-travel feature to your ship was present in the build he tested, he could not guarantee whether it would be included in the final release version.

Faction QuestUnlock Upgraded Housing with 'Luke's Request'

The upgraded housing system allows players to build homes ground-up. According to Pearl Abyss, you can design not only interior decorations but also the placement of structural elements like walls and windows, down to the foundational layout of the home.

Director Powers described it as survival-game-style building where you manually place every wall, window, door, and piece of furniture. There are two requirements: establishing the camp at Howling Hill and completing 'Luke's Request' under the 'Grounds of the Sunrise' Greymane faction questline. Meeting these conditions gives access to both the standard and upgraded housing systems.

Faction QuestLiberate Regions and Run Businesses

Business management involves leasing and operating facilities throughout Pywel. Four types of facilities can be leased: diners, sawmills, smithies, and tailor shops—with the diner in Belua and the smithy at Zargan Chariot Works serving as key examples. Pearl Abyss explained that players assign companions and equipment to leased facilities, selecting items for sale and operational strategies to earn currency. Managed facilities continue operating even when players are far away, and special guests will occasionally visit.

To use a facility, you must complete the faction quest that liberates that region and have the Greymane Camp established. Once both conditions are met, facilities can be accessed under the newly added 'Facilities' tab on the map. This feature also carries no main-ending requirement.

Post-EndingReclaim Strongholds and Become the Master of Castles

Two castles across Pywel can be claimed as Greymane strongholds. Once the stronghold where a castle stands is liberated and designated quests are completed, ownership of the castle is granted. Once acquired, players can decorate the courtyard and interior with dedicated furniture and ornaments.

According to Director Powers, while outer walls cannot be modified unlike courtyards and interiors, the castles offer far more spacious living areas than previous Greymane housing.

The requirements were outlined in the patch notes. The two castles are granted upon completing specific quests and having their respective strongholds liberated. Because one requires completing the main quest 'The Journey Back' and the other requires a new quest unlocked after 'The Journey Back', both castles can only be claimed after seeing the ending.

Post-EndingNew Storylines and Garden of Trials Locked Behind the Ending

Aside from the castles mentioned above, two pieces of content are strictly inaccessible without beating the main game. The first is the new individual storylines for Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane. After completing the main quest 'The Journey Back', players can pick up new character-specific quests—one for each protagonist—via the Journal menu.

Director Powers introduced these new storylines as epilogues for the three main characters. They depict what Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane—who no longer travel together after the base game—are doing in the world on their own. While stating it is difficult to estimate exact playtime, he noted that each character receives roughly a full chapter's worth of story set in new regions. Kliff's story mostly revolves around mysteries tied to the Crimson Desert region. The narrative was written by the same team responsible for enhancing the story in the Enhanced Edition.

The second is the Garden of Trials, a new combat challenge. Unlocked only after completing the main quest 'The Journey Back', it is located near the Abyss at the Library of Providence. Comprising 10 stage groups in total, players can enter solo or form a party of up to three—Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane—with companions present before entering. You choose the battle rotation order yourself, and if one character falls, the next takes over in a relay format. Because healing with food is prohibited, thorough preparation is essential. Clearing each stage group empowers one of your existing skills.

In summary, players who have not reached the ending can unlock ocean quests and shipbuilding simply by progressing through Chapter 3 at Howling Hill to establish and upgrade their camp. Upgraded housing and business management can also be accessed without finishing the story as long as specific faction quests are completed. However, if you are aiming to experience the epilogues of the three protagonists, the Garden of Trials, and the Greymane Castles, you must play through to the ending. Further details can be found in the launch patch notes. Note that save files saved on a system with the DLC installed cannot be loaded or cross-saved on an environment without the DLC, so players switching between multiple devices should exercise caution.

The burden of learning new control schemes appears minimal. Director Powers stated he did not see skill tree changes while playing through the build himself, saying he was 90% confident about it, while noting that new weapons and armor have been added instead.