Former Elder Scrolls Online Head Raves About Crimson Desert’s Unique Take on Gameplay

Matt Firor, a veteran in the world of MMOs since the days of Dark Age of Camelot, has recently shared his thoughts on the much-anticipated game, Crimson Desert. After leading ZeniMax Online Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online, for years, Firor stepped down in 2025 following the cancellation of another MMO project, Blackbird, along with significant layoffs.

Despite his departure, Firor remains a fan of The Elder Scrolls Online, secretly diving back into its vast world. However, he’s currently captivated by Crimson Desert, which, while not strictly an MMO, boasts characteristics reminiscent of one. “It’s fantastic,” he expressed in a candid chat. He went on to highlight how the technical challenges of MMOs are often overlooked, pointing out that the online tech aspect is one of the toughest hurdles in game development.

What sets Crimson Desert apart, according to Firor, is the fact that it allows for a singleplayer MMO experience, which he jokingly referred to as “almost like cheating.” He wondered aloud why this concept hadn’t been explored sooner in game design. Initially, Crimson Desert was meant to serve as a prequel to the well-known MMO Black Desert Online, but during its development, the game underwent significant transformations, ultimately focusing on a singleplayer experience. Despite this shift, Firor noted that traces of its MMO origins still linger within the game.

Reflecting on his gameplay, Firor remarked that Crimson Desert takes him back to the golden days of gaming—when players faced challenges without excessive guidance or hand-holding. He’s been trying to experience the game in pure discovery mode, avoiding online guides, and enjoying the puzzles that come with exploration. “I still don’t know what I’m doing,” he chuckled, “but I’m having so much fun. I’ve trained about 15 horses, but honestly, they all seem pretty similar!”

With his extensive background in game design stretching back to the ’90s, Firor’s insights are invaluable as we look forward to the future of gaming and explore the unique avenues that titles like Crimson Desert are carving out in the industry.