Crimson Desert may threaten GTA 6's reign in the Game of the Year

The release of GTA 6 is undoubtedly the event that will paralyze the world on November 19, but it seems that Rockstar Games will not have a red carpet laid out to the Game of the Year trophy without breaking a sweat. The one who planted this seed of doubt was Mike York, a former animator at Rockstar itself, who decided to shine the spotlight on Crimson Desert. In a recent video, York suggested that the project by Pearl Abyss has what it takes to be a tough competitor, betting on a freedom that can make the player forget about real life. It's a bold bet, considering that we are talking about facing the titan of Take-Two, but it serves as a reminder that acclaimed names do not win awards just for existing.

The pressure of perfection and the Korean surprise factor

York's logic is simple and somewhat harsh: if Rockstar does not deliver the promised revolution, the path is clear for whoever truly innovates. "This game can be the Game of the Year, mark my words. And the reason is that you can completely lose yourself in this game," he stated about the title by Pearl Abyss. It's fun to note how the industry thrives on cycles; while Rockstar deals with the overwhelming pressure of refining every pixel for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, Crimson Desert arrives earlier, on March 19, with the advantage of being the novelty without the weight of a dynasty on its back. If the Korean game delivers half of what the trailers promise, the favoritism of Grand Theft Auto may start to waver even before we reach November.

The hypothetical scenario and the weight of the calendar

York's criticism goes further and places the action RPG on a luxury "plan B" level for the judges. For him, if the 2026 calendar did not include the return of Lucia and Jason, the discussion would already be closed. "If GTA VI disappoints, Crimson Desert can be the Game of the Year. If GTA VI didn't even exist this year, Crimson Desert would probably take the prize," fired the former developer.

In the end, this competition is the best possible news for gamers. Having Rockstar under pressure means that the level of polish will have to be insane to justify the hype. On the other hand, if Crimson Desert is everything that York imagines, we will have two open-world landmarks in the same year. The big question is whether Pearl Abyss will be able to sustain the necessary depth or if it will just be a "almost there" in the face of the massive scale of GTA 6. The duel is set and, honestly, if a game can be mentioned in the same sentence as Grand Theft Auto, it has already done half of the work.