You can rob caravans and get thrown in jail in Crimson Desert

Pearl Abyss has built a full crime system into Crimson Desert, something that was hinted at in trailers as far back as when the "Threaten" prompt first appeared next to NPCs. A recent overview video, "Life in Pywel", has now confirmed the mechanic and detailed its consequences.

Here are some examples of crimes you can commit:

• Pickpocketing NPCs

• Stealing items off the ground or from tables

• Shoving characters and grabbing whatever they drop

• Threatening NPCs to extort money

• Seizing horses and wagons

• Attacking townspeople and robbing them

When you commit theft, a red "Crime: Theft" banner appears on screen along with an arrest notification in the top-right corner. As violations pile up, your wanted level rises – a wanted poster featuring Cliff's face and a bounty amount appears on screen. Guards and patrols turn hostile, and if you don't manage to escape, your character gets arrested and tossed into a wooden cell.

The system is designed to make the criminal path genuinely risky. At high wanted levels, players can find themselves facing dozens of enemies at once, making escape difficult without proper preparation. Regional reputation also takes a hit, leading to lost discounts and other perks from locals.

That said, crime does have its practical upsides. Certain pieces of equipment provide attack bonuses based on your wanted level, giving a "villain playthrough" legitimate gameplay incentive.

According to the developers, the story remains fixed and doesn't feature moral choices in dialogue – but how you behave in the open world is entirely up to you.

Pearl Abyss noted that the crime system does have its limits. Since the story centers on Cliff and his company as the central figures in the conflict, turning the whole game into an unchecked rampage without consequences won't be possible.

Crimson Desert launches March 19, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.