Crimson Desert Enhanced is in the running for two trophies at the Golden Joystick Awards 2026. Pearl Abyss announced on September 28 that its open-world action-adventure game has been nominated for PC Game of the Year and Best Soundtrack.
First held in 1983, the Golden Joystick Awards is one of the longest-running video game award shows in the world and celebrates its 44th edition this year. Nominees in each category are selected by a panel of gaming media and industry experts, while winners are decided through online voting by players worldwide.
What the two Crimson Desert Enhanced nominations recognize
PC Game of the Year looks at titles that deliver an outstanding gameplay experience on PC, including technical performance and optimization. Best Soundtrack honors games that create memorable and immersive experiences through their music.
Voting is open now on the official Golden Joystick Awards website and runs through October 23. Winners will be announced on November 11 local time in London, United Kingdom.
More content is on the way
The nominations land as Pearl Abyss prepares the next chapter for the game. In September, the studio announced that the first DLC for Crimson Desert Enhanced launches on October 16, revealed during Sony Interactive Entertainment’s State of Play and paired with the start of global pre-orders for the expansion.
Crimson Desert follows Kliff, a member of the Greymanes, after a nighttime ambush by the Black Bears leaves his comrades dead or scattered across the continent. He sets out to reunite the survivors and rebuild what was lost, forging alliances and uncovering mysterious factions as a larger threat takes shape.
Awards season in gaming has been busy this month. The Japan Game Awards 2026 named its 10 most anticipated titles just days before this announcement.
Where Pearl Abyss goes next
Pearl Abyss was established in 2010 and built both the Black Desert MMORPG franchise and Crimson Desert on its proprietary engine. The studio says it is developing DokeV and PLAN 8 on its next-generation game engine, BlackSpace Engine.
For fans of Crimson Desert Enhanced, the clock is ticking. Votes in both categories can be cast before the October 23 deadline, with the winners announced in London on November 11.
Giancarlo Viterbo
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
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