Pearl Abyss’ highly anticipated open-world action game, Crimson Desert, has surpassed 2 million copies sold worldwide in just over 16 hours after its launch on March 19th, despite a “Mixed” reception on Steam. The rapid sales figures demonstrate significant initial demand for the title, which is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
So How is Pearl Abyss Addressing Launch Issues?
Crimson Desert reached over 239,000 concurrent players at launch and currently ranks among the most played titles with around 130,000 active players, according to SteamDB charts. Yet, the game’s release was met with some challenges, including complaints about controls and design elements like a restrictive inventory system. A list of current issues remains extensive, with reports of visual glitches and quest tracking problems.
Pearl Abyss has already begun rolling out a patch addressing many of these issues, promising content improvements, adjusted animations, and dialogue refinements. The company also posted on X on March 20, 2026, expressing gratitude to the community for the over 2 million copies sold and welcoming player feedback. The developers emphasized their commitment to quickly resolving existing problems.
Despite the rocky start, Steam reviews have improved, currently leaning positive at 72 percent. The game’s core content appears to be resonating with players. The initial hurdles notwithstanding, Crimson Desert has the potential to become one of the most compelling open-world experiences of the year. The game’s launch highlights the ongoing evolution of open-world game design and the challenges of delivering complex, ambitious titles.
Source: via X
