DokeV targets a late 2028 release, nine years after its first announcement in 2019, as Pearl Abyss begins shifting resources toward its development. Find out more details about it below.
Pearl Abyss Confirms Focus on DokeV's Development
DokeV Planned to Arrive Nine Years After First Reveal
DokeV is aiming for a release in the second half of 2028, according to Pearl Abyss’ Q2 2026 earnings letter published August 11. The South Korean studio says it is using the technology and experience gained from making Crimson Desert, and that development is going well.
Pearl Abyss is hiring more staff to speed up development. Major marketing efforts, including hands-on demos, are planned for late 2027. Additionally, the company announced that they are also working on another game called "Plan 8", but stated that most resources are focused on DokeV.
Korean Folklore Turned Into Collectible Creatures
DokeV is an upcoming creature-collecting open-world action-adventure for PC and consoles where players explore and collect creatures called Dokebi. These creatures are based on Korean folklore and mythology, and the game itself also heavily leans into Korean culture for its environmental design and aesthetic.
The game’s trailer shown during Gamescom Opening Night Live in 2021 provided a substantial look at gameplay that's similar to Palworld, another creature-collecting game. In the trailer, Pearl Abyss pointed out that "many of the game's core features, including its real-time combat system, boss fights, and diverse methods of transportation, were demonstrated." Other features like fishing and special gear were also shown in the video.
DokeV is spearheaded by lead producer Sang Young Kim, former animation director for Black Desert Online and Black Desert Mobile, and Suh Won Choi, former Game Design Director of Black Desert Online, as the Development Producer. The game is being developed using Pearl Abyss’ proprietary BlackSpace Engine, the same one used to power Crimson Desert.
DokeV Has Faced a Long Road to Release
The game then spent several years largely out of the spotlight while Pearl Abyss focused on getting Crimson Desert to release, which also saw its own share of delays. DokeV has been in development for considerably longer than Pearl Abyss originally planned. It was originally announced as an MMORPG and was aiming to hold a beta test in 2020, but that never materialized.
Pearl Abyss has since acknowledged how heavily its attention had been centered on Crimson Desert. During a July 2026 shareholder briefing attended and reported by Inven Global, Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young said, "until this year, the launch of Crimson Desert was our most important task, and we were so focused on that that we may have neglected market communication." COO Lee Dong-won went on to explain that the true goal of developing Crimson Desert was to build a development process, and that DokeV will be the first project to benefit from the rapid-cycle system.
The company confirmed that DokeV is "past the world-building and asset-creation stages," and is now in the content production phase. Once the gameplay loop is finalized, Pearl Abyss is planning to hold demonstrations for global users. If the current second-half 2028 target holds, DokeV will arrive nearly nine years after its original reveal.
Source:
Pearl Abyss 2Q26 Earnings Letter
Pearl Abyss Premieres Spectacular DokeV Gameplay Trailer During Gamescom's Opening Night Live Show
G-Star 2019: New Details and Trailers Emerge for PLAN 8, Crimson Desert, DokeV and Shadow Arena
Pearl Abyss Preparing 'Switch 2' Version of Crimson Desert; DokeV Targeted for 2028
