Pearl Abyss Moves More Staff to DokeV, Which Targets the Second Half of 2028
Pearl Abyss did not disclose staffing numbers and said full-scale marketing, including hands-on demos, should begin around the second half of 2027.
After years of waiting, DokeV is moving forward behind the scenes. Pearl Abyss has started assigning more development staff to the colorful creature-collecting adventure, which remains targeted for release in the second half of 2028.
Pearl Abyss first announced DokeV during a Connect presentation in November 2019. The studio then focused most of its development resources on Crimson Desert, which launched in March 2026. That game is still receiving patches, updates, and DLC, but its post-launch work has now reached a stage where more staff can move over to DokeV.
The same 2019 presentation also showed the reveal trailer for Crimson Desert:
Pearl Abyss said its teams are managed according to each project’s current development phase, so it is not sharing a specific headcount for DokeV. As Crimson Desert’s patch work settles, staffing is being progressively reallocated, and the company said it is adding more people to DokeV as development continues.
Players should not expect a flood of new information right away. Pearl Abyss is aligning DokeV’s reveal plans with its planned launch window, with details, gameplay footage, and other material due to be shared gradually. Full-scale marketing efforts, including hands-on demos, are expected to start around the second half of 2027.
DokeV remains a creature-collecting open-world adventure
Pearl Abyss describes DokeV as an open-world action-adventure game set in a colorful world. Its creatures, called Dokebi, live alongside humans and draw strength from people’s dreams. The game is built around befriending these creatures while taking part in activities, stories, and other adventures across its world.
The reveal showed a much brighter tone than Crimson Desert, with a young protagonist traveling through lively environments alongside several Dokebi. The original trailer remains the clearest look at the project’s direction while Pearl Abyss continues development:
Alongside the staffing update, Pearl Abyss is still working on Crimson Desert support and a planned Switch 2 version of Crimson Desert. The studio said that port has reached a playable baseline and is undergoing technical reviews, with a release targeted for the first half of 2027.
DokeV now has a clearer schedule, but its next major public showing is still some distance away. Until the marketing push begins in 2027, Pearl Abyss is keeping the focus on development and gradually expanding the team behind its creature-filled world.
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