With its global release just two days away on March 19, 2026, Pearl Abyss’ long-awaited single-player epic “Crimson Desert” has generated intense buzz through a wave of early hands-on previews, leaked impressions and technical breakdowns. The open-world action-adventure game, developed by the creators of “Black Desert Online,” promises a massive fantasy realm filled with dynamic combat, exploration and spectacle, and initial reactions suggest it largely delivers on years of trailer hype.

Set on the continent of Pywel, “Crimson Desert” follows protagonist Kliff, leader of the Greymane mercenary faction, as he navigates political intrigue, brutal battles and mythical threats. The story emphasizes epic moments over deep narrative branching, with players rebuilding their group amid a looming crisis. Pearl Abyss positions the title as a bold shift from its MMORPG roots to a focused single-player experience blending influences from “The Witcher 3,” “Dragon’s Dogma 2,” “Assassin’s Creed” and character-action games like “Devil May Cry.”

Early access for select creators and outlets has revealed a game of staggering ambition. Previewers who spent 4 to 12 hours — and in some cases up to 50 hours — describe an overwhelming yet exhilarating start. PC Gamer’s Harvey Randall called it “one of the most overwhelming, chaotic, madcap videogames I’ve ever played” after six hours, praising its unapologetic dedication to “rule of cool” with absurd high-fantasy elements like dragon riding, mech suits and sky-floating ruins in the Abyss realm.

Combat stands out as the strongest pillar. Reviewers highlight deep, expressive systems featuring full combos, enemy-learned moves and large-scale battles that feel like character-action titles in an open world. One leaked impression from Spanish creator Revenant, shared via a now-deleted podcast, described the combat as “incredible” and unprecedented in scope, predicting a Metacritic score in the 80-85 range. Verticality shines with grappling, climbing and aerial maneuvers, even without mounts.

The world of Pywel impresses with its scale and detail. Hands-on reports from IGN, PlayStation Blog and others note jaw-dropping vistas, dense environments and freedom in exploration. Activities range from oddball side quests to puzzle-solving, though some puzzles feel slow-paced. The DualSense controller enhances immersion on PS5 with adaptive triggers and haptics during fights.

Technical performance draws mixed but mostly positive notes. Digital Foundry’s recent deep dive on PS5 Pro showcased smooth, high-fidelity gameplay, though base PS5 runs around 40-45 FPS in quality mode according to leaks. PC versions appear demanding yet capable of strong results. Minor issues like complicated controls and a steep learning curve — especially in the first 8 hours — appear frequently, with a “slow burn” before systems click.

Not all feedback is glowing. Some previewers, including TheGamer’s Sam Woods after six hours, found the control scheme confusing and the “everything” approach potentially diluting mastery in any one area. It’s described as more gameplay-focused than story-driven, lacking the narrative depth of top RPGs. No handholding means a challenging entry, which may not suit everyone.

Pearl Abyss has ramped up marketing with an official launch trailer and gameplay footage emphasizing reclamation of power and beyond-limits feats. Pre-load began March 17 in many regions, with simultaneous launch across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store) and Mac.

Fan anticipation remains sky-high despite the absence of widespread base-console footage pre-launch, likely to curb leaks. Communities on Reddit, ResetEra and NeoGAF buzz with discussions of its ambition, comparing it favorably to recent open-world hits while noting potential for post-launch polish.

As embargo lifts fully post-release, “Crimson Desert” could emerge as a defining 2026 title for action-adventure fans craving spectacle and depth. Early signs point to a polarizing yet captivating experience — chaotic, visually stunning and mechanically rich — that rewards patience and immersion.

With launch imminent, players worldwide prepare to dive into Pywel. Whether it fully lives up to the hype or requires tweaks, the journey promises to be unforgettable.

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Costco is making a bold move into fertility care. 

The membership-only retailer announced last Monday it will begin offering fertility treatments to customers at a steep discount through a new nationwide partnership with healthcare providers.

The initiative brings together telehealth provider Sesame and fertility clinic IVI RMA North America to provide a full spectrum of services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing and intrauterine insemination (IUI). 

Most notably, the service will slash one of the largest out-of-pocket costs in fertility care, offering savings of up to 80% on medications, including Follistim, which can cost around $2,000 per cartridge. As a result, patients could save thousands of dollars on each cycle.

COSTCO RECALLS POPULAR MEATLOAF MEAL KIT OVER SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION FEARS ACROSS 26 STATES

A Costco store in Alhambra, California, US, on Thursday, June 27, 2024.  (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The company says the program is designed to break down one of the biggest barriers to care for the 1 in 6 Americans struggling with infertility, making fertility treatment more accessible than ever.

“Our partnership with Sesame and IVI RMA reflects our commitment to transparent and affordable solutions that reduce barriers, are more accessible, and more affordable for our members,” Richard Stephens, senior vice president of Pharmacy at Costco, said. “By combining transparent pricing with coordinated care, we’re removing the barriers that have historically kept quality fertility treatment out of reach for too many families.”

COSTCO SUED BY CUSTOMER SEEKING REFUNDS FOR TARIFF PAYMENTS

A nurse communicating with a patient. (Getty / Getty Images)

The program and its specially negotiated discounts are exclusively available to Costco members, who pay a membership fee for access to the store and its offers. 

The program is available nationwide and can be accessed online.  

Costco pharmacies will dispense the medications required for patients using the company’s exclusive fertility service partnerships. (Toronto Star Archives/Toronto Star via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The program combines Sesame’s direct telehealth access for treatment planning, IVI RMA North America’s specialized clinics for medical procedures, and Costco’s pharmacy to fulfill the necessary medications.

Through Sesame, patients can complete evaluations and diagnostic workups, allowing doctors to map out a personalized treatment plan.

If patients require major specialty procedures such as IVF or IUI, they are connected to IVI RMA clinics where discounts have been negotiated for Costco members.

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The IVI RMA network also provides preimplantation genetic testing of embryos (PGT-A), single embryo transfers, fertility preservation, and specialized fertility care for LGBTQ+ patients.

Operator

Good afternoon, and welcome to the HealthEquity Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note, this event is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Richard Putnam. Please go ahead.

Richard Putnam
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you, Gary. Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us this afternoon. This is HealthEquity’s Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2026 Earnings Conference Call. My name is Richard Putnam, I do Investor Relations for HealthEquity. Joining me today are Scott Cutler, President and CEO; Dr. Steve Neeleman, Vice Chair and Founder of the company; and James Lucania, Executive Vice President and CFO.

Before I turn the call over to Scott for our prepared remarks, we note that the press release announcing our fourth quarter financial results was issued after the market closed this afternoon and that it includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that we will reference here today. You can find a copy of today’s press release, including reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures with comparable GAAP measures on our Investor Relations website, which is ir.healthequity.com.

Our comments and responses to your questions reflect management’s view as of today, March 17, 2026 and they will contain forward-looking statements as defined