Pearl Abyss's open-world action-adventure game "Crimson Desert" is quickly reversing sentiment on the eve of release after harsh prelaunch reviews. Although global review scores and early user ratings fell short of expectations and raised concerns about its box-office performance, sales and user metrics have improved simultaneously since launch, changing how the market views the game.
According to the game industry on the 27th, Pearl Abyss expects "Crimson Desert" to reach a cumulative 4 million units sold, and as many as 5 million, by this weekend. Unlike the negative evaluations that continued right after launch, the actual sales pace is rising quickly, leading analysts to say a trend is emerging in which "results overturn the reviews."
Before launch, "Crimson Desert" received a lower-than-expected Metacritic score of 78. Considering previews had mentioned the mid-to-high 80s, it was a disappointing start. The main reasons cited for the point deductions were complex controls, inconvenient UI, and insufficient narrative development, and the initial Steam reviews also stayed at a "mixed" level. In domestic communities, criticism such as "the controls are inconvenient" and "the story is weak" spread quickly.
But within a few days after launch, the mood flipped. The key was Pearl Abyss's swift response. The company rolled out large patches on launch day and on day three, overhauling areas that had drawn concentrated user complaints, including improving control responsiveness, easing input lag, enhancing UI convenience, and adjusting difficulty. In particular, the improved feel of the controls led to changes users could clearly feel and served as the decisive catalyst for the rebound in evaluations.
User ratings have improved rapidly since the patches. On Steam, the overall rating has risen to "mostly positive," and in recent reviews the positive ratio has climbed to the 80%–90% range. Responses from Western users are improving relatively quickly, driving global momentum.
Sales indicators back this up. "Crimson Desert" sold 2 million units on day one and surpassed 3 million in four days, dispelling early box-office worries in a short span. Peak concurrent users on Steam reached the 240,000 range, remaining high even after launch, and over the weekend the game even set a record high. This is a different trajectory from most games, which peak right after launch and then decline.
Elements cited as key reasons for the early harsh reviews are also being reassessed. The control scheme, criticized as complex, is drawing evaluations that, after acclimation, it leads to combat depth, and the open-world design and graphical polish have been rated among the world's best since launch. Among users, even a new coinage meaning "getting immersed in 'Crimson Desert,'" "bulg-myeodeunda," has appeared, spreading experience-based evaluations.
Brokerages are also offering positive outlooks. Meritz Securities put first-quarter sales of "Crimson Desert" at about 4.5 million units, and global investment bank JP Morgan projected annual sales of 5 million to 7 million units. Given that the average selling price exceeds 100,000 won, the short-term earnings improvement is expected to be significant.
At the 2026 regular shareholders meeting held the same day, the company expressed confidence in the game's box-office prospects. Pearl Abyss approved all major agenda items as originally proposed, including the financial statements and the appointment of outside directors, and CEO Heo Jin-young said, "Crimson Desert has ranked No. 1 in Steam sales since launch, recorded 240,000 concurrent users, and sold 3 million units in four days," adding, "We will continue to improve the game's completeness through ongoing patches such as control improvements based on user feedback." He continued, "We will make Crimson Desert a game that is loved for a long time."
This case is also seen as meaningful in that it reflects a change in how Korean game companies operate. As a "live service-style response" that incorporates user feedback almost in real time has led to a reversal in fortunes, not only completeness at launch but also post-release response speed is emerging as a key competitive edge. In fact, a structure in which user-generated content, such as short-form videos, spreads quickly and creates additional inflows is also being observed.
However, whether the game will enjoy long-term success remains a variable. Given the single-player–centered structure, users may leave after consuming the content, and evaluations of the story and endgame content are still divided. The key will be whether content expansion through DLCs and updates can continue.
A game industry official said, "Despite harsh early reviews, it is unusual to reverse the mood with sales and rapid patches," adding, "Depending on the speed of patches and content expansion strategy going forward, it will be determined whether 'Crimson Desert' can go beyond a short-term hit and establish itself as a long-term IP."