Crimson Desert has reached a new peak in concurrent players on Steam during its second weekend, driven by a substantial update that introduced numerous enhancements to the open-world action-adventure game. Developer Pearl Abyss launched update 1.01.00 this morning, generating buzz in the community with key improvements such as the addition of five summonable mounts—a feature previously criticized as missing at launch—along with reduced loading times for fast travel and revival, and refined controls. This patch includes a comprehensive list of meaningful adjustments that collectively elevate the overall gameplay experience.
Pearl Abyss has been rolling out significant updates at a rapid pace. Despite being on sale for less than two weeks, a series of patches have already transformed Crimson Desert's Steam user review rating from 'mixed' to 'very positive.' The game's peak concurrent player count on Steam surged to 276,261 on Sunday, securing its position as the third most-played title on the platform, trailing only Valve's Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2.
These figures do not account for console performance, as Sony and Microsoft do not disclose player numbers, suggesting the total player base is likely much larger. In a recent Q&A session after a shareholders' meeting, Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young addressed inquiries about Crimson Desert, with South Korean media reporting that the game has sold 3 million copies and is on track to reach 5 million. According to Korean business press, development spanned seven years with costs around 200 billion won (approximately $133 million).
During the Q&A, Heo Jin-young acknowledged player criticism regarding the game's story, stating, as reported by Yonhap News Agency, 'I sympathize to some extent with the disappointment users feel regarding the story. I think it would have been nice if we could have done a better job with it. The production team tried to make up for the shortcomings in the remaining time, but ultimately, we focused on strengthening the gameplay, which is what we do best.'
While there are no concrete plans for DLC or official mod support in the near future, a Nintendo Switch 2 version is reportedly under consideration. The latest patch not only adds summonable mounts but also addresses various gameplay elements, such as eliminating random door locks, removing AI-generated art that had drawn apologies from Pearl Abyss, and enhancing mechanics like theft, flight, stamina usage, and the user interface.
For those diving into Crimson Desert's expansive world, resources include guides on essential early actions, hidden tips, recommended weapons, initial skills, and strategies for success in Pywel. The update also focuses on UI fixes, performance, stability, and overall gameplay improvements.
