This paper explores the potential of Crimson Desert, an upcoming open-world action role-playing game, as a tool for improving English language skills developed by Pearl Abyss. Players are encouraged to develop vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening skills, and contextual understanding while completing missions, interacting with non-player characters (NPCs), and interpreting game instructions. Unlike traditional classroom methods, Crimson Desert offers a dynamic learning environment where language is directly connected to problem-solving and decision-making. This contextualized exposure helps learners retain new vocabulary and expressions more effectively. Additionally, the game's narrative and exploration mechanics motivate players to engage with English voluntarily, increasing both learning time and intrinsic motivation. Features such as subtitles, voice acting, and interactive dialogue further support language development by combining visual, auditory, and textual input. This study argues that entertainment-based learning through Crimson Desert can complement formal English education by promoting authentic communication, cultural awareness, and learner autonomy. While the game's primary purpose is entertainment, its rich linguistic environment creates valuable opportunities for incidental language acquisition. The theoretical framework is based on Gee (2003), Prensky (2001), Peterson (2016), and Reinhardt (2019), since these authors provide established theories on digital game-based language learning that can support this research. We conclude that incorporating narrative-driven titles into language learning strategies may offer educators and learners an innovative and motivating alternative to conventional instructional methods. Future research should investigate the measurable impact of gameplay on English proficiency and compare its effectiveness with other digital learning resources.

Authors:
Laura de Almeida, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Brazil
Robhert Santos, Independent Scholar, Brazil

About the Presenter(s)
Laura de Almeida is currently working at Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), teaching Literature, methodology and other subjects

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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