Crimson desert soars past 3 million copies in explosive launch
Pearl Abyss’s Crimson Desert has achieved a remarkable milestone, selling 3 million copies worldwide in just five days. The open-world action RPG, launched on March 19, reached 2 million copies within the first day, showcasing an immediate and fervent player response. The game’s rapid ascent underscores the enduring appeal of high-fidelity, immersive experiences, even amidst a crowded market.
Early praise tempered by control concerns
The game’s initial reception on Steam was marked by a ‘mixed’ user review rating, primarily due to complaints surrounding the controls. Players described them as clunky and overly complicated, a sentiment echoed by performance issues, particularly on the PS5 where blurry visuals were a common concern. This prompted a collaborative effort among PlayStation owners to identify the root cause, an issue also affecting the PC version.
The financial repercussions were swift. Pearl Abyss’s stock price plummeted nearly 30% following the release of initial reviews, a drop that deepened further a day later, losing another 9.78% despite the impressive sales figures. Korean Business outlets report that the development of Crimson Desert spanned seven years and incurred a staggering cost of 200 billion won (approximately $133 million).
However, the narrative is shifting. Crimson Desert Steam reviews are steadily improving, currently sitting at ‘mostly positive’ and climbing towards ‘very positive’ with the release of significant updates. A recent patch directly addressed the keyboard and mouse control issues, enhancing responsiveness and promising further refinements. Alongside control improvements, the update included quality-of-life enhancements such as a storage box, adjustments to gameplay difficulty, and expanded fast-travel options.
The game’s Metascore stands at 78, with a user score of 8.1. Despite the challenges, the game’s core mechanics and visual presentation continue to resonate with players. Further developments are underway, including addressing player requests for increased dragon accessibility and uncovering hidden design elements that demonstrate the depth of the game’s creation. IGN has compiled extensive resources to aid newcomers, including a