Pearl Abyss announced that its single-player RPG Crimson Desert has now sold over 3 million copies worldwide, just a week after launch. The studio pledged continued fixes for launch issues including Intel Arc GPU compatibility and control problems. User reviews have improved amid rapid patch deployments.
Pearl Abyss revealed on March 24 that Crimson Desert, a spin-off from its MMO Black Desert, reached 3 million sales worldwide, adding 1 million copies since Friday. The game hit 2 million sales less than 24 hours after its debut last week. 'To everyone who has stepped into Pywel and shared this journey with us, thank you,' the team stated on social media. PR and marketing director Will Powers thanked the community for an 'amazing launch week' and affirmed, 'We're continuing to make the game better with all of your feedback.' Despite the sales success, Crimson Desert faced launch hurdles. Players reported the game failing to start via the Xbox App on PC, poor performance on base PS5 models, and troublesome keyboard and mouse controls. Intel Arc GPU users initially received advice to seek refunds, as the hardware was incompatible at release. Pearl Abyss later apologized for the FAQ wording and committed to compatibility: 'We are preparing to provide a smooth and stable gameplay experience' on Intel Arc systems. Intel confirmed it had offered development assistance multiple times, expressing disappointment over the launch issues and readiness to help further. The studio deployed a hefty patch on March 23 addressing bugs, quality-of-life improvements, and new keyboard shortcuts. It also admitted to undisclosed generative AI use, now removing assets via a full audit and adding a Steam disclaimer. User reviews on Steam and Metacritic have risen slightly over the past week, with players praising the studio's quick responses.
