Crimson Desertlaunches today, reviews are live, and players are already diving in. But before most people had even touched Pearl Abyss's long-awaited action RPG, one voice cut through the noise with a surprisingly bold take, and it came from someone who knows Rockstar's work better than most.
Mike York, an animator whose credits include Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, went on record in a recent YouTube video to say that Crimson Desert has what it takes to compete for Game of the Year in 2026. The catch? It would need GTA 6 to stumble pretty badly first.
For anyone excited about what Crimson Desert brings to the table, hearing that kind of praise from someone with York's background carries real weight.
What York Actually Said
York's comments weren't vague hype. He pointed specifically to how immersive the game feels, saying "this could become Game of the Year" and that "the reason for that is because of how much you can get lost in this game." He called it "a real contender when it comes to all the cool stuff that this game has to offer."
Here's the thing, though. He was also very clear about the obstacle standing in the way.
"It would have to beat out GTA 6," York said, noting that for Crimson Desert to actually take the top prize, Rockstar would have to "drop the ball" and "the story would have to be crap." His words, not a vague implication.
He went further, suggesting there would need to be "a reason for people to hate" GTA 6 for Crimson Desert to genuinely claim that spot. But he also doubled down on the Pearl Abyss title's potential: "If GTA 6 wasn't here at all this year, Crimson Desert would take probably Game of the Year."
That's a meaningful distinction. York isn't dismissing Crimson Desert. He's saying it's strong enough to win in almost any other year.
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York's comments are his personal opinion as a former developer and content creator, not an official statement from Rockstar Games or Pearl Abyss.
Two Massive Games, One Calendar Year
The timing here is genuinely unusual. Crimson Desert is out now, while GTA 6 is still scheduled for a November launch. That means both titles could realistically be competing in the same GOTY cycle, which almost never happens with games at this scale.
GTA 6 carries over a decade of anticipation behind it, the kind of cultural weight that's almost impossible to quantify. Crimson Desert, on the other hand, is the underdog with something to prove, a title that Pearl Abyss themselves admitted was announced "too early" and has spent years trying to live up to its own promise.
Early impressions suggest it's doing exactly that. The game has drawn comparisons to some of the best open-world RPGs in recent memory, and York's take aligns with a broader sense in the community that Crimson Desert is genuinely special.
Why This Conversation Matters Right Now
What makes York's take interesting isn't the conclusion, it's the source. This isn't a fan or a rival studio taking a shot. This is someone who spent years animating some of the most acclaimed open-world games ever made, speaking with obvious respect for what Pearl Abyss has built.
The key here is that even a conditional endorsement from someone with that background says something real about Crimson Desert's quality. York isn't saying it will win GOTY. He's saying it deserves to be in that conversation, and that's already more than most new IPs can claim.
With worldwide release times confirmed and pre-loads already live, players won't have to wait long to judge for themselves whether Crimson Desert lives up to the moment. Make sure to check out more:
