Crimson desert races to 2 million copies amidst player concerns

Pearl Abyss’s highly anticipated open-world action RPG, Crimson Desert, has launched with a bang, selling 2 million copies in its first day. However, the game's arrival hasn't been without friction, with a mixed reception from both critics and players.

Early sales don't guarantee critical acclaim

The Korean studio confirmed the milestone yesterday, March 19th, announcing the sales figures across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. While celebrating the achievement, Pearl Abyss acknowledged player feedback and pledged swift improvements.

The game's launch on Steam saw nearly 250,000 concurrent players, but user reviews currently sit at a "mixed" rating. A significant portion of the criticism centers on the game's controls, with many finding them cumbersome and overly complex. Performance issues are also surfacing, particularly on the PS5, where some users report blurry visuals – a problem also affecting the PC version.

The financial fallout from the game's reception is already visible. Pearl Abyss's stock price plummeted nearly 30% following initial reviews, and the decline continued today, falling another 9.78%. Reports suggest the game’s development cost around 200 billion won (approximately $133 million) over seven years.

The company will be watching closely to see if this sales surge can offset the negative sentiment. The immediate priority is addressing the core complaints to improve the game’s Steam review score. Players are eagerly awaiting patch notes for the day one update, and IGN has compiled extensive resources, including a full review, a guide to essential early-game strategies, and troubleshooting tips for common issues.

The question remains: can Pearl Abyss turn the tide and transform Crimson Desert from a mixed bag into a resounding success? The company’s next moves will determine its success.