Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former director of The Witcher 3 and current head of Rebel Wolves, believes that Pearl Abyss’s Crimson Desert succeeds by prioritizing exploration and mechanical depth over a narrative-heavy focus.
A New Perspective on Open-World Freedom
Tomaszkiewicz, currently leading the development of the upcoming vampire RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, is actively studying the current gaming landscape to refine his own craft. In a recent roundtable interview, he highlighted how Crimson Desert achieves unique emotional resonance without relying on a traditional story-dense structure.
“I’m paying attention not only to the story element but also to replay loops and how people approach the open world,” Tomaszkiewicz explained. “I’m playing Crimson Desert and checking how they approach freedom from a system perspective. It’s a different type of RPG, but it proves you can achieve totally different emotions without being story-heavy. The game focuses on exploration, systems, and ‘RPG things,’ which is really interesting.”
The Return of 90s-Style Genre Diversity
While some critics debate whether Crimson Desert qualifies as a traditional RPG or an open-world action title, Tomaszkiewicz views the genre through a broad, historical lens. He compares the current diversity in game design to the early 1990s, where titles like Eye of the Beholder and Betrayal at Krondor offered vastly different gameplay experiences despite sharing the same genre label.
“We are in a place where those doors are again open,” Tomaszkiewicz noted. “Companies that aren’t necessarily small can deliver AAA experiences with an indie feel. It’s refreshing because, for a time, many games felt similar. Right now, we are seeing games that offer genuinely different experiences.”
Commitment to the RPG Craft
Tomaszkiewicz’s passion for the genre remains the driving force behind his new studio, Rebel Wolves. He emphasizes that his focus is not on chasing trends like shooters or racing games, but on delivering high-quality, artistic RPG experiences.
“I love RPG games so much,” he said. “If you told me, ‘We have a new company, we have money, come do an MMO,’ I would not go. I will not make racing games or shooters, because these kinds of RPGs are what’s inside me, and this is what I want to create as a piece of art.”
The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently slated for release this September, promising to carry forward this deep-seated respect for the history and evolution of the RPG genre.
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