Black Desert
News, coverage and analysis tracking Black Desert across the outlets.
Latest coverage
As smash success Crimson Desert boosts Pearl Abyss revenue by a whopping 419%, company confirms it's thinking about DLC
Pearl Abyss reported a 419% increase in operating revenue for Q1 2026, largely driven by the successful launch of Crimson Desert. The company is considering downloadable content for the game and is also developing DokeV and Plan 8, aiming for a new game release every two to three years.
Crimson Desert increases Pearl Abyss Q1 earnings more than fivefold to $220.6m
Pearl Abyss reported a significant surge in Q1 operating revenue, reaching $220.6 million, primarily driven by the March launch of Crimson Desert. The game generated $179.1 million in sales, with the majority coming from North America and Europe. The company forecasts continued strong performance for Crimson Desert and plans for future platform expansion and DLC.
Black Desert Mobile Announces Boss Blitz Update and 2026 Martial God Championship
Pearl Abyss has released the Boss Blitz update for Black Desert Mobile, introducing a new combat mode focused on fast-paced boss encounters. The update coincides with the ongoing 2026 Martial God Championship, featuring PvP tournaments and a winner prediction event. Additional updates include new achievements, treasure material exchanges, and various system and UI improvements.
Crimson Desert’s Success Results in Pearl Abyss’s Highest Quarterly Revenue Ever
Pearl Abyss reported its first quarter 2026 earnings, with Crimson Desert significantly contributing to its highest quarterly revenue ever, a 420% year-over-year increase. The game, along with the ongoing MMORPG Black Desert, drove substantial revenue, with consoles and PC each accounting for 50% of Crimson Desert's sales. The company anticipates stable performance for Crimson Desert post-launch and will focus on user experience and events for Black Desert.
Black Desert picks Heidel Ball attendee names, begins mobile Martial God Tournament
Pearl Abyss is selecting attendees for the Black Desert Heidel Ball event in Southern California, with PC and console fans being notified via email. Meanwhile, Black Desert Mobile has launched its in-game Martial God Tournament, featuring 1v1 and 2v2 competitions and offering various rewards. The mobile version also received an update on its test server, allowing players to try transcendent versions of several classes.
Crimson Desert Studio is “More Adaptable, More Malleable”: “We Can Pivot Faster Versus the AAAs”
Pearl Abyss's marketing and planning director Will Powers stated that the studio behind Crimson Desert is more adaptable and can pivot faster than larger AAA companies due to its indie-like approach. He highlighted the team's real-time iteration based on player feedback and their willingness to accept new ideas, contrasting it with the brand restrictions faced by major publishers. The company also has other titles, DokeV and Plan 8, in development.
Pearl Abyss marketing director says Crimson Desert's rapid 'live service' patch cadence is business as usual for an MMO studio: 'That is not normal in the industry. That is normal here'
Pearl Abyss marketing director Will Powers stated that Crimson Desert's rapid patching based on player feedback is standard practice for their studio, unlike other companies. He highlighted that this iterative approach, honed by their experience with Black Desert, allows them to adapt to player desires without relying on fixed roadmaps. Powers also emphasized the studio's openness to external ideas, contrasting it with potentially ego-driven approaches in the industry.
Black Desert PC officially begins the ninth season of its Arena of Solare PvP
The PC version of Black Desert has officially launched the ninth season of its Arena of Solare PvP mode. This update introduces a reworked ranking system, scaled point gains, improved rewards, and new maps. The season will run until June 25th and also includes class balance changes and updates to node wars.
"A single-player MMO is almost like cheating": Crimson Desert is "awesome," former Elder Scrolls Online director says, even if "I don't know what the hell I'm doing"
Former Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor praised Crimson Desert as "awesome," noting that its single-player MMO design feels like "cheating." He highlighted the game's lack of hand-holding, comparing its exploration to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and expressed his enjoyment despite not fully understanding all its mechanics after dozens of hours.
Pearl Abyss has finally sold EVE Online studio CCP Games… to CCP Games’ own management
Pearl Abyss has sold EVE Online developer CCP Games back to its management team for $120 million USD. The sale comes almost a year after initial rumors and marks a strategic shift for Pearl Abyss, which acquired CCP Games in 2018 for $180 million. Despite EVE Online's strong performance, CCP Games' history of failed ventures led to the decision to divest.
Black Desert details the Arena of Solare’s next season on PC and tests more transcendent classes on mobile
Black Desert is detailing upcoming changes for the Arena of Solare's next season on PC, which includes adjustments to point earnings and rewards. The game is also testing new transcendent classes for its mobile version, including Sorceress, Maehwa, Striker, Musa, and Giant. Recent PC updates brought UI improvements and a new difficulty for the Altar of Blood.
Black Desert adds new barter updates on PC, opens a test server for mobile, and hypes July’s Calpheon Ball
Black Desert on PC has received updates including new barter routes, UI improvements, and Altar of Blood revamps. Black Desert Mobile launched a test server for class remastering and introduced changes to its ranking and Ancient Anvil systems. Console versions also received parity updates with PC, and Pearl Abyss is hyping the upcoming Heidel Ball event.
Crimson Desert Surpasses 5 Million Copies Sold Worldwide
Pearl Abyss announced that its open-world action-adventure game, Crimson Desert, has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The game, praised for its visuals and combat, is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Mac. Pearl Abyss also previewed upcoming updates based on player feedback.
MMO Week in Review: EQ Legends’ beta, Ashes of Creation’s drama
This week's MMO news roundup covers the upcoming closed beta for EverQuest Legends and ongoing legal drama surrounding Ashes of Creation. Several other titles like AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity, Dune Awakening, and Temtem Pioneers also saw significant updates or funding news.
Black Desert’s 2026 Heidel Ball event for PC and console will be held in California on July 25
Black Desert has announced its 2026 Heidel Ball event will take place in Southern California on July 25th. The event will showcase upcoming updates for the MMORPG, including a new class and content for Edania, alongside esports, a cosplay contest, and in-person activities for PC and console players.
Crimson Desert Previews Upcoming Content Updates Following Successful Launch
Pearl Abyss has previewed upcoming content updates for Crimson Desert, planned for April through June, following its successful launch. These updates, influenced by player feedback, will introduce new endgame challenges like boss rematches and difficulty settings, alongside character and gameplay improvements, expanded storage systems, and technical enhancements. A free soundtrack DLC will also be released on Steam.
Black Desert tweaks the Red Battlefield on PC and sees cherry blossoms bloom on mobile
Black Desert is receiving different updates across its platforms. The PC version is tweaking its Red Battlefield PvP instance with improved rewards and an automatic match finder, alongside other UI and accessory drop updates. Black Desert Mobile, however, is focusing on seasonal aesthetics with cherry blossom blooms and gear advancements. BDO Console players are being directed to a class-specific tournament.
Popular Crimson Desert Mod Has Players Asking Why Character Creation Isn't in the Game by Default
A popular PC mod for Crimson Desert has added a character creation suite, leading many players to question why this feature wasn't included by default. The mod allows players to customize their protagonist using NPC assets, with plans to add male assets and reworked armor. This has sparked discussion about developer Pearl Abyss' decision to use a set protagonist, especially given their previous MMORPG, Black Desert, features extensive character customization.
Best Android MMORPGs
This guide ranks the best MMORPGs available on Android devices, highlighting games that offer deep gameplay without excessive pay-to-win mechanics. Featured titles include Old School RuneScape, Villagers & Heroes, Adventure Quest 3D, and Black Desert Mobile, among others, catering to various player preferences from grind-heavy experiences to more casual play.
Black Desert Mobile gets a PC launcher, console and PC bring back flying donkeys and celebrate Easter
Black Desert Mobile has launched a PC launcher, allowing players to experience the MMORPG on a larger screen with improved visuals and the ability to run two instances simultaneously. The mobile version also received an O'dyllita boost server with doubled XP and progression rewards, alongside remastered fishing and UI updates. Meanwhile, the console and PC versions are celebrating Easter with egg-themed events and the return of flying donkeys, with additional updates for console including a new monster zone and class adjustments.