Will Powers
Reporting and statements that mention Will Powers.
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Crimson Desert will be slowing down its free updates in preparation for its paid DLC, and I'm just glad Pearl Abyss…
Pearl Abyss is shifting development resources from free updates to focus on Crimson Desert's first major paid DLC, which is slated for release in the final quarter of this year. While free updates will slow down, they will continue, with director of marketing and PR Will Powers confirming the change in pace.
Crimson Desert’s Updates May Not Have The Same “Scope, Scale and Pace” After 2.0
Pearl Abyss PR director Will Powers stated that future updates for Crimson Desert may not maintain the same "scope, scale, and pace" as previous ones, as the development team shifts focus to an upcoming paid DLC. While support will continue with further updates, the company is prioritizing the DLC, which is targeting a release this year and may feature a nautical theme. The recent 2.0 update enhanced the game's narrative and added features like Abyss Links for skill management.
Crimson Desert updates are slowing down in "scope, scale, and pace" as Pearl Abyss shifts focus to the DLC
Pearl Abyss is slowing down the scope, scale, and pace of updates for Crimson Desert to focus on the game's upcoming DLC. The developer has shifted resources from regular updates to concentrate on the paid expansion, which is still slated for release later this year. This change follows the successful launch of the base game and its 2.0 update.
Palworld 1.0 briefly overtook the king of Steam, Counter-Strike 2, and devs can't help but bask in the victory: "Let me enjoy this moment for just a little longer"
Following its 1.0 update, Palworld has seen a massive surge in players, briefly surpassing Counter-Strike 2 in concurrent players on Steam. Pocketpair's John Buckley shared his excitement for the achievement, with other industry figures like Will Powers from Pearl Abyss offering congratulations. CEO Takuro Mizobe also expressed gratitude to the fans for enjoying the game.
Crimson Desert devs aren't trying to "sell more" with the continual massive patches, but "give more back to the community," Pearl Abyss PR lead says
Pearl Abyss PR lead Will Powers stated that Crimson Desert's frequent post-launch updates are intended to reward players and celebrate the game's success, not to drive further sales. The open-world title has sold over five million copies since its March release and continues to receive substantial support, including free updates and planned DLC.
Crimson Desert’s Post-Launch Support is About How the Team “Can Give More Back to the Community”
Crimson Desert is receiving extensive post-launch support from Pearl Abyss, including free game systems, armor sets, and abilities, with plans for more updates until September and future DLC. This approach focuses on rewarding the player community rather than solely on increasing sales. The developers aim to enhance the game with story improvements and cutscene updates to provide a better experience for both new and existing players.
Crimson Desert DLC "will be substantively different" to the main game, Pearl Abyss PR lead teases
Pearl Abyss PR lead Will Powers teased that the upcoming DLC for Crimson Desert will be "substantively different" from the base game in scope, scale, or size. The developer, known for its live service approach with Black Desert, continues to provide frequent free updates for Crimson Desert while working on the paid expansion.
Crimson Desert Dev Explains How It's Changing the Game's Story, What 'DLC' Means, and Why Anything Goes
Pearl Abyss marketing and PR director Will Powers discussed Crimson Desert's evolving story and the meaning of DLC for the game. He indicated that the development team is open to various possibilities for future content.
Crimson Desert's free updates are "free marketing" and will continue "as long as there's demand…
Pearl Abyss plans to continue providing substantial free updates for Crimson Desert as long as there is player demand, viewing it as a form of free marketing. This approach, similar to their MMO Black Desert Online, aims to reward the community and maintain player engagement. Updates are planned through September, with DLC also in development.
Crimson Desert’s Smallest Patch Still Packs Some Major Improvements
Crimson Desert patch 1.09 introduces several quality-of-life improvements, including controller remapping and the addition of 30 new species of small animals to tame. The update also brings new skills for characters Damiane and Oongka, along with enhancements to the Dispatch UI and armor dyeing system. Despite being a smaller patch, it demonstrates the development team's continued commitment to refining the player experience.
Crimson Desert’s Post-Launch Evolution Is Unlike Anything Else This Year
Crimson Desert is evolving its post-launch support by implementing frequent updates that address player feedback and enhance the game world, effectively creating a hybrid live-service experience without traditional microtransactions. The developer is prioritizing responsiveness to player complaints and is considering future content expansions, including DLC, to further develop the game.
Hot off the heels of Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss wants to "accelerate development" on open-world Pokemon-like MMO DokeV as it aims to release a new game "every two to three years"
Pearl Abyss is accelerating development on its open-world MMOs DokeV and Plan 8, aiming for a new game release every two to three years. The developer, known for Crimson Desert, acknowledges announcing games too early in the past and is focusing on a more efficient release cycle for its upcoming titles.
Crimson Desert update nails a major fan request as lions, tigers, bears, and more can be tamed and turned into special…
Crimson Desert has received patch 1.06.00, which adds the ability to tame and register various animals, including lions, bears, and tigers, as special mounts. The update also introduces an "Extraction" feature to recover materials used in equipment refinement and adds new combat skills for Oongka. Pearl Abyss is iterating on updates in real-time based on player feedback, addressing requests like permanent mounts.
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.
Crimson Desert studio Pearl Abyss is really "an indie publisher with a triple-A quality game," marketing lead…
Pearl Abyss marketing lead Will Powers described the company as an "indie publisher with a triple-A quality game," highlighting their adaptability compared to larger studios. While the company develops the ambitious Crimson Desert and Black Desert Online, its ownership of CCP Games and investments in other studios suggest a broader industry ambition beyond a purely indie classification.
Crimson Desert Lacks Roadmap Because Pearl Abyss Isn’t “Baking in Assumptions” About Players’ Wants
Pearl Abyss's marketing director, Will Powers, explained that Crimson Desert lacks a content roadmap because the company prioritizes iterating on the game in real-time based on player feedback. This approach treats the single-player experience as a live-service title, allowing for flexibility and avoiding assumptions about player desires. The studio emphasizes that good ideas can come from anywhere, contrasting with more ego-driven development practices.
Crimson Desert's "largest update yet" brings countless changes, but it all pales in comparison to cats now being able to stay on your shoulder for longer
Pearl Abyss has released Crimson Desert's largest update yet, version 1.04.00, which introduces new difficulty modes and house customization options. While these additions are significant, the update is notably highlighted for a bug-turned-feature that allows cats to remain on the player's shoulder for extended periods.
Crimson Desert super fan "played 56 hours straight and slept 8" on repeat to earn its Platinum trophy, and even Pearl Abyss is concerned: "That's not enough sleep"
A Crimson Desert player has earned the game's Platinum trophy on PlayStation 5 in an exceptionally short amount of time, playing for 56 hours straight at points. Pearl Abyss' PR and marketing lead, Will Powers, expressed concern over the player's reported sleep schedule, deeming it unhealthy.
Nearly 2 weeks after Crimson Desert's launch, tons of players are still in the first region: "136 hours in the…
Despite being released nearly two weeks ago, many players are still exploring the first region of Crimson Desert, with some reporting over 130 hours played without leaving it. The game has sold three million copies in five days, and its massive scope is a frequent topic of discussion among players and even its PR director.
Crimson Desert sells another 1m, as Pearl Abyss pledges more fixes to address launch day struggles
Pearl Abyss announced that Crimson Desert has sold over 3 million copies worldwide since its launch, with another million sold since Friday. The studio's PR and marketing director, Will Powers, thanked the community and pledged ongoing fixes for launch issues, including performance problems and control issues, with a recent patch addressing bugs and adding quality-of-life improvements.
