Crimson Desert Achieves 3 Million Sales in Just Five Days

Crimson Desert has reached a remarkable milestone, selling 3 million copies in only five days since its release. Developed by Pearl Abyss, this open-world action game debuted on March 19 and quickly moved 2 million units on its first day, followed by an additional 1 million over the next four days.

In a statement, Pearl Abyss expressed gratitude: "We are thrilled to announce that Crimson Desert has sold through 3 million copies globally. To all who have ventured into Pywel and joined us on this adventure, thank you. Your input is invaluable in refining the game, and we are committed to enhancing the experience for our players moving forward."

Despite a strong launch on Steam with nearly 250,000 concurrent players, the game initially received a 'mixed' user review rating on Valve's platform. Early feedback highlighted issues with controls, described by some as awkward and overly complex, along with performance concerns. For instance, PS5 players collaborated to identify causes of blurry graphics, a problem also noted in the PC version.

Concurrently, Pearl Abyss experienced a significant stock price drop of nearly 30%, attributed to critical review scores. The day after launch, the stock fell another 9.78%, even as sales soared. Korean business reports indicate that the company invested seven years and approximately 200 billion won (around $133 million) in developing Crimson Desert.

However, the game's Steam reviews have been improving, shifting from 'mixed' to 'mostly positive' as Pearl Abyss rolls out impactful updates. Currently, English reviews have climbed to 'very positive.' On Metacritic, Crimson Desert holds a Metascore of 78 and a user score of 8.1.

A recent patch addressed keyboard and mouse control complaints, enhancing responsiveness and promising further refinements. It also introduced numerous quality-of-life improvements, such as adding a storage box, reducing game difficulty in certain areas, and increasing fast travel points. Today, Pearl Abyss stock declined by 2.51%.

For more on Crimson Desert, explore topics like player requests for easier dragon access, a discovery showcasing the developers' attention to detail, and our in-depth review. If you're diving into the vast open world, check out our guides: Things to Do First in Crimson Desert, Things Crimson Desert Doesn’t Tell You (with 28 tips and growing), Best Early Weapons to acquire, Best Skills to Get First (including a breakdown of the skills system), and 34 Essential Tips and Tricks for success in Pywel.