Crimson Desert
News, coverage and analysis tracking Crimson Desert across the outlets.
Latest coverage
PlayStation License Checks Confirmed, Requires Forced 'Check Ins' Online Every 30 Days
Sony has implemented a new Digital Rights Management (DRM) policy requiring PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles to connect online every 30 days to verify licenses for digital games. This check is reportedly mandatory for games purchased after a March 2026 system update, with titles becoming unplayable if the console remains offline for longer than the 30-day period. While Sony has not issued a formal statement, customer support interactions and fan reports confirm the intentional nature of this new licensing enforcement.
Despite Crimson Desert's popularity, almost 80% of Steam players haven't made it halfway through the story yet, proving how massive Pearl Abyss's open world is
Despite Crimson Desert's popularity, only about 20% of players have reached the halfway point of its story, indicating the vastness of Pearl Abyss's open world. This suggests that players are more engaged with the game's numerous activities and mechanics than its main questline.
Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta updated to fix issues with the EA App
Valve has released updates for Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta, primarily to address issues with the EA App on Linux and SteamOS. The updates include a new version of Xalia, which should resolve lockups when interacting with the EA App. Numerous other game-specific fixes and improvements are also detailed, covering a wide range of titles and functionalities.
Crimson Desert is so successful that the studio that makes it has reportedly given each of its employees a $3,400 bonus
Pearl Abyss has reportedly awarded each employee a bonus of approximately $3,400 (5 million Won) to celebrate the significant success of their action-RPG, Crimson Desert. The game has surpassed 5 million copies sold in under a month, prompting praise from the South Korean prime minister and internal recognition from the CEO. Employees are also slated to receive another performance-based bonus in 2027.
Pearl Abyss paid its employees a 5 million won bonus after Crimson Desert reached 5 million sales: 'Our journey…
Pearl Abyss has awarded its employees a 5 million won bonus following Crimson Desert reaching 5 million sales. The South Korean prime minister also celebrated the game's success, calling it a new chapter for K-content. The company has also been actively addressing player feedback and adding new features post-launch.
Crimson Desert Studio Has Reportedly Rewarded Employees With 5 Million Won Bonus
Pearl Abyss has reportedly awarded its employees a 5 million Won bonus to celebrate Crimson Desert selling over 5 million copies worldwide. CEO Heo Jin-young expressed gratitude for the team's hard work and acknowledged that the journey is far from over, with future bonuses planned based on performance. The company is also exploring a potential Nintendo Switch port, though acknowledging the platform's technical limitations.
Engagement Ring
Pearl Abyss has reportedly given every employee a bonus of approximately $3,400 following strong sales of their game, Crimson Desert. This gesture highlights the success of the title and the company's appreciation for its staff.
Surprise Hit 2025 Game Getting PS5 Pro PSSR 2 Update
Embark Studios' multiplayer hit Arc Raiders is receiving PSSR 2 support for the PlayStation 5 Pro with its upcoming Riven Tides update on April 28, 2026. This enhancement aims to provide sharper visuals and more stable reconstruction of fine details. Arc Raiders joins a growing list of titles confirmed to support the PlayStation 5 Pro's new performance feature.
Crimson Desert has 'opened a new chapter in K-content', according to the South Korea Prime Minister — and the game's Steam player count highlights that, beating the likes of Marvel Rivals, and keeping players interested even more than Elden Ring did
Crimson Desert has achieved significant success, with its Steam player count surpassing several live-service games and maintaining strong player retention a month after launch, even exceeding Elden Ring's performance. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-Seok praised Pearl Abyss, stating the game has opened a new chapter for K-content by showcasing their proprietary technology and incorporating Korean cultural elements.
Crimson Desert Devs Get Huge Bonuses as Korean PM Praises PS5 Hit
Pearl Abyss, the developer of Crimson Desert, has awarded its employees a significant bonus following the game's global success, which has sold over five million units. South Korea's prime minister praised the studio, highlighting the potential for Korean game content to expand across diverse platforms, including consoles, and marking a new chapter for K-content.
Crimson Desert developer gives every employee $3,400 bonus to celebrate the game's success
Pearl Abyss has awarded every employee a bonus of $3,400 to celebrate Crimson Desert reaching five million sales. This bonus is in addition to annual performance-based pay and is seen as a positive move in an industry often criticized for its treatment of developers. CEO Heo Jin-young expressed gratitude for the team's hard work in creating a successful product.
Crimson Desert is an amazing game, but it wouldn't be nearly as great without its enthusiastic community
Crimson Desert, despite lacking a multiplayer component, fosters a strong sense of community through player-driven guides, shared discoveries, and collaborative problem-solving. This shared experience, likened to Elden Ring's launch but with a sillier tone, is crucial to the game's success and helps players overcome its obtuse elements. Developer Pearl Abyss's rapid implementation of community-requested features further strengthens this bond.
Crimson Desert Has Sold So Well Developer Pearl Abyss Has Reportedly Given Every Employee a $3,400 Bonus
Pearl Abyss has reportedly given every employee a $3,400 bonus due to the strong sales performance of their game, Crimson Desert. This bonus reflects the success of the title since its release.
Just over 20% of players are halfway through Crimson Desert's story, and I feel like that says a lot about how…
Analysis of player engagement in Crimson Desert reveals that only 21.2% of players have reached the halfway point of the main story after five weeks. This suggests players are prioritizing the game's numerous side activities and sandbox elements over its narrative, which is criticized for being below average in quality. Pearl Abyss is actively updating the game post-launch, adding new features and improvements.
Crimson Desert 5 Million Sales Milestone Gains Prime Minister's Praise
Crimson Desert has achieved over 5 million sales in its first month, earning praise from South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok for elevating the Korean game industry globally. Pearl Abyss also celebrated the milestone by awarding employees a 5 million won bonus. The game's success, partly attributed to its incorporation of Korean cultural elements, is seen as a significant step for "K-content" and demonstrates the potential of domestic studios on the global stage.
UK software sales chart for the week ending April 25, 2026 – Pragmata and Tomodachi Life in the top 3
The UK software sales chart for the week ending April 25, 2026, shows Pragmata taking the top spot, pushing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream to third place. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition and Resident Evil Requiem also feature in the top 5, with Elden Ring and Tekken 8 following closely.
Crimson Desert is still reaching impressive player numbers on Steam over a month after launch, despite being a…
Crimson Desert continues to maintain impressive player numbers on Steam over a month after its launch, regularly hitting six-figure concurrent peaks. Despite being a single-player title, Pearl Abyss's consistent updates, including new difficulty settings and quality-of-life improvements, are credited with retaining player interest. The game's performance on PC is strong, with potential for continued popularity on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
South Korean prime minister praises Crimson Desert and Pearl Abyss, believes it has opened "new chapter in K-content"
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok praised Pearl Abyss's Crimson Desert, calling it a "new chapter in K-content" and a "crucial turning point" for the national games industry. He highlighted the game's use of in-house technology and cultural elements like taekwondo, noting its success across multiple platforms. The article also mentions other successful South Korean titles like Lies of P and Stellar Blade.
How to eavesdrop and complete the Bared Fang quest in Crimson Desert
This guide explains how to complete the Bared Fang quest in Crimson Desert, focusing on the eavesdropping mechanic and the correct dialogue options when speaking with the Blue Fang guard. Following these steps will allow players to progress through Chapter 7 of the game's storyline.
Games Inbox: Which is better out of Pragmata and Saros?
Readers debate the merits of new sci-fi third-person shooters Pragmata and Saros, with one reader expressing difficulty choosing between them due to simultaneous release and cost. Other topics include the potential impact of Grand Theft Auto 6, the value of Vampire Survivors, Microsoft's Xbox strategy, and recommendations for games similar to Mad Max.