Pearl Abyss' open-world game 'Crimson Desert' is emerging as a new example of long-term success in the domestic console gaming market. Following its global sales surpassing 6 million copies, the game continues to sell at full price without any discounts. 'Crimson Desert' is not only setting a new benchmark for global success in domestic PC and console games but is also becoming a key intellectual property (IP) driving Pearl Abyss' performance improvement.
According to the gaming industry on July 13, 'Crimson Desert' has maintained its full-price sales on PC and console platforms. It has been 116 days since its global launch on March 20, and Pearl Abyss has not announced any plans for discounts.
On its launch day, 'Crimson Desert' recorded sales of 2 million copies, followed by 3 million copies within four days, 4 million copies in 12 days, and 5 million copies in 26 days. On June 11, it reached a global cumulative sales figure of 6 million copies just 83 days after its release, marking the fastest sales pace among domestic console games.
Typically, the gaming industry sees a slowdown in sales during the 2-3 months following a game's release. During this period, companies often implement discounts to attract new demand. However, 'Crimson Desert' has demonstrated sustained sales growth without lowering its price, proving both user demand and price competitiveness.
Compared to other successful domestic PC and console games in the global market, 'Crimson Desert' has maintained a longer period of full-price sales. For instance, Neowiz's 'Lie of P' began its first discount about two months after its official release in September 2023. Similarly, Shift Up's 'Stella Blade' for PC started its first discount three months after its June 2025 release.
Full-price sales contribute more to revenue than discounted sales based on the same sales volume. Having already sold 6 million copies at full price, 'Crimson Desert' has established a foundation to rebound sales through new users, even if discounts are introduced later.
Industry analysts expect that the sales performance of 'Crimson Desert' will be fully reflected in the second quarter, allowing Pearl Abyss to continue its positive performance, including a return to operating profit. In the first quarter of this year, the success of 'Crimson Desert' led to a staggering 2,584.8% increase in operating profit compared to the same period last year, achieving the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history.
Pearl Abyss plans to extend the success of 'Crimson Desert' through paid downloadable content (DLC), content updates, and discount events.
A Pearl Abyss representative stated, “We currently have no plans for discount sales of 'Crimson Desert.' We are developing paid DLC and will continue regular updates to ensure long-term success.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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