Pearl Abyss
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"Slay the Spire 2 is a masterpiece," Palworld lead says, but Crimson Desert "makes me feel a sense of wonder I've not felt since Oblivion"
Pocketpair's communications lead John Buckley has praised Crimson Desert, calling it his "dream game" and a source of wonder not felt since Oblivion. While acknowledging Slay the Spire 2 as a masterpiece, Buckley's enthusiasm for Crimson Desert, despite its initial mixed Steam reviews, remains high following recent patches. He also mentioned Blossom: The Seed of Life and Mr Farmboy as other notable March releases.
Crimson Desert Has Sold 4 Million Copies Worldwide
Pearl Abyss announced that Crimson Desert has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, thanking players for their support. CEO Heo Jin-young also confirmed that the studio is investigating a potential Nintendo Switch port, though acknowledged technical challenges. The game has received several post-launch updates addressing player feedback, including new mounts and inventory management improvements, which have positively impacted its player count on Steam.
Crimson Desert’s Hidden Story on the Greymanes Explained
This article delves into the narrative complexities of Crimson Desert, explaining the lore surrounding the Greymanes faction and their motivations. Despite developer Pearl Abyss acknowledging storytelling shortcomings, the piece highlights how crucial plot points are hidden in submenus and disjointed dialogue, making the game's story difficult to follow.
Crimson Desert Kliff actor reveals his character changed a lot during development and he had to push Pearl Abyss for clarity — 'I just kept pushing and pushing and pushing about story and character as much as I could'
Crimson Desert voice actor Alec Newman revealed that the game's story and his character, Kliff, underwent significant changes throughout its five-year development. Newman stated he had to repeatedly push Pearl Abyss for clarity on the narrative and character motivations, noting that the studio frequently altered the game's focus and even changed the protagonist's name from Macduff to Kliff.
The new Crimson Desert patches are grand and all, but the Ray Reconstruction performance and lighting options are still…
Despite recent patches for Crimson Desert, issues with Ray Reconstruction performance and lighting options persist, leading to significant frame rate drops and visual bugs, particularly with armor models. The author notes that while the game is fun, these graphical problems, exacerbated by DLSS Performance mode, detract from the experience. Continued support from Pearl Abyss offers hope for future improvements.
How to get the Shadow Armor in Crimson Desert
This guide details how to obtain the Shadow Armor set in Crimson Desert. The set, which offers daze and petrification immunity along with fire resistance, can be acquired by defeating the boss Beloth in the Hoenmark Ruins or by finding its pieces scattered throughout the Everfrost region.
The consensus is that Crimson Desert has terrible storytelling—it's not true
Despite a consensus that Crimson Desert's storytelling is weak, this article argues it's not terrible and contains compelling individual quests and character moments. While the overarching narrative lacks structure, the game offers engaging stories, particularly those involving the Greymane faction, which are elevated by strong characters and voice acting, comparable to elements found in The Witcher 3.
Crimson Desert Beginner Guide: 20 Tips I Wish I Knew First
This guide offers 20 tips for new players of Pearl Abyss's action-adventure game, Crimson Desert, to navigate its complex systems and challenging combat. It emphasizes understanding the game's mechanics, such as parrying and fast travel, and prioritizing character progression through health and stamina upgrades over early combat skills. The guide also highlights efficient resource management and the importance of using in-game tools like the lantern and bell towers.
Crimson Desert's waterskiing shoes are my favorite silly gadget the game has produced so far
Crimson Desert features numerous magical gadgets, with the Vaporwalkers being a standout item for their unique water-sliding ability. These shoes allow players to traverse shallow water quickly, aiding exploration and bypassing obstacles. While the ability has limited charges, they recharge over time, making them a useful, albeit quirky, tool for navigating the game world.
NCsoft America CEO on the MMORPG genre’s future: ‘Trends in any creative industry come back around’
NCsoft America CEO Jeonghee Jin believes the MMORPG genre is poised for a resurgence, stating that trends in creative industries tend to cycle back. She highlighted NCsoft's growth in the West and active pursuit of new projects and publishing deals, suggesting a genuine chance for new MMORPGs despite current industry challenges. Jin also touched upon the potential for younger players, accustomed to virtual worlds like Roblox and Minecraft, to embrace MMORPGs.
Larian publishing boss takes some spicy swipes at Crimson Desert, calling it a 'cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics'—but I think he might be the cynical one this time
Larian Studios' publishing director Michael Douse criticized Crimson Desert as a 'cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics.' The author argues this assessment is unfair, drawing parallels to Baldur's Gate 3's use of existing systems and highlighting Crimson Desert's MMO origins and ambitious scope as reasons for its appeal.
Crimson Desert voice actor says he had to keep pushing to get a cohesive story for Kliff
Voice actor Alec Newman, who has been working on Crimson Desert for five years, discussed the challenges of developing a cohesive story for the game. Newman stated that the writing was scattershot and that he had to repeatedly push the developers to clarify plot points and character motivations. This aligns with criticisms of the game's narrative pacing and unclear character goals mentioned in reviews.
Crimson Desert is a “Cynical Amalgamation of Borrowed Mechanics,” Says Larian’s Publishing Director
Michael Douse, publishing director at Larian Studios, described Pearl Abyss's Crimson Desert as a "cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics." While acknowledging the game is fun and borrows from other titles, he questioned its originality compared to other AAA open-world games. Douse also expressed hope that Crimson Desert might achieve a similar success as Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen.
Crimson Desert Actor Pushed for Kliff’s Backstory, Says Recording Began “In Earnest” Two Years In
Voice actor Alec Newman, who plays Kliff in Crimson Desert, discussed the game's turbulent development, stating that full recording didn't begin until about a year and a half in, despite his five years on the project. Newman pushed for more character development for Kliff, emphasizing the importance of family and camaraderie, and expressed a desire for a more expressive protagonist. The article also briefly mentions recent gameplay updates to Crimson Desert and the ongoing development of DokeV.
These Games Could Beat GTA 6 for GOTY 2026
While Grand Theft Auto 6 is a strong contender for Game of the Year in 2026, other titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and Saros are also being discussed as potential winners. The article analyzes the betting odds and critical reception for these games, noting that Grand Theft Auto 6's release date has been pushed back multiple times, creating uncertainty.
All Strongbox puzzle locations and solutions in Crimson Desert
This guide provides solutions for all Strongbox puzzles found in Crimson Desert. These puzzles are scattered throughout various locations and offer rewards such as unique weapons and accessories. The guide details the specific steps or button sequences required to solve each puzzle, including those in Bluemont Manor, Hillside Manor, and Lioncrest Castle.
'I Don't Want to Say They Started Panicking…' — Actor Behind Crimson Desert's Kliff Reveals 'Bridge Point' Where Pearl Abyss Realized the Story and Characters Needed to Change
Actor Alec Newman, who voices Crimson Desert's protagonist Kliff, shared insights into the game's development, revealing a pivotal moment where Pearl Abyss recognized the need to revise the story and characters. This discussion highlights significant shifts in the game's narrative and character arcs during its production.
Crimson Desert is "a cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics," says Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead:…
Michael Douse, publishing director for Baldur's Gate 3, described Crimson Desert as a "cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics." While acknowledging the game is fun, he compared it to a compilation album, suggesting it stitches together various elements without a strong original vision.
Black Desert PC begins testing PvE buffs and preparing an esports event for next Heidel Ball
Black Desert on PC is testing PvE buffs for certain class skill combos and skills with long cast times on its Global Lab server. The live game has seen recent adjustments to classes and combat mechanics. Additionally, an NA vs. EU esports tournament is scheduled to culminate at the game's Heidel Ball event.
Crimson Desert's Kliff was originally so Scottish he was named after a MacBeth character, and his actor pushed Pearl Abyss to make him less "stoic"
Crimson Desert's protagonist Kliff was originally named MacDuff and had a more Scottish origin, according to voice actor Alec Newman. Newman pushed Pearl Abyss to develop Kliff beyond a stoic character, advocating for more emotional depth and narrative complexity throughout the game's lengthy development.
