Crimson Desert is currently dominating the PC marketplace as it has climbed to the very top of the sales charts days before anyone can actually play it. The upcoming title has officially become the number one paid game on Steam's global bestsellers list. Even though it doesn't officially launch until March 19, the sheer volume of pre-orders for Crimson Desert has allowed it to surpass some of the biggest hits of the year so far.
The road to this release has been a long one for the developers at Pearl Abyss. Best known for their work on the popular MMO Black Desert, the studio has spent over seven years crafting this new project. Originally, it was meant to be a prequel to their previous hit, but over time, it evolved into a massive standalone single-player journey. This change in direction has clearly paid off, as some in the industry are already predicting it could be the second-best-selling game of the entire year, trailing only behind the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6.
"Hell No" Crimson Desert Addresses Whether It's Easy and If It Will Have Difficulty Options at Launch or Not
Pearl Abyss clarifies how hard players can expect Crimson Desert to be and whether it will have difficulty options ahead of its March 2026 release.
Crimson Desert Dominates Steam Before Day One
According to SteamDB, Crimson Desert is already topping charts as the best-selling paid title on Steam’s global top sellers chart. The open-world title has climbed to the second spot on the sales charts, sitting just below the free-to-play Counter-Strike 2. The financial metrics coming out of Steam are also nothing short of impressive for a new IP. According to estimates from Alinea Analytics, Crimson Desert has already generated more than $20 million in gross revenue from Steam pre-orders alone. Just yesterday, the game saw a massive spike in interest, raking in $2.6 million in a single 24-hour window as the marketing campaign reached its fever pitch.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
To put this success into perspective, the game is currently outperforming other major 2025 hits. At the same point in their release cycles, Crimson Desert is tracking nearly four times higher than Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and almost 10 times higher than the award-winning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This momentum is largely driven by a massive wishlist count that recently crossed the 3 million mark across all platforms, with roughly 2.2 million of those coming from Steam users.
Despite the overwhelming hype, the game hasn't been completely free of drama. Recently, frustration spread through the community when it was revealed that the PC version of Crimson Desert would include Denuvo DRM protection. Many veteran PC gamers worry that this anti-piracy software could hurt the game's performance, especially on systems already struggling to keep up with the game's cutting-edge visuals. Some fans on the game's subreddit and Steam forums have even encouraged others to cancel their pre-orders or switch to the console versions instead.
However, Pearl Abyss has tried to calm these fears by proving how well the game is optimized. The minimum requirements are considerably low, allowing people with decade-old GTX 1060 graphics cards to still run the game. The developers have also promised that the game can run at a native 4K resolution at 60 FPS without even needing upscaling tech like DLSS, which is a bold claim for a modern AAA title.
One reason the game is tracking so well is the marketing team's approach. PR Director Will Powers has been praised for his straightforward communication style, specifically quelling fears about microtransactions. In a recent podcast, Powers confirmed that Crimson Desert is designed to be a premium experience that players buy once and enjoy in full, with no cosmetic cash shop.
The studio has also been proactive in showing off how the game runs on various hardware. After fans asked for more console footage, Digital Foundry was given early access to show off Crimson Desert running on the PlayStation 5 Pro. While the PS5 Pro version looked impressive, there were still some lingering concerns about how the base consoles would handle such a demanding world. Pearl Abyss responded to these concerns by releasing base PS5 gameplay footage of Crimson Desert on March 17.
The scope of Crimson Desert's world is reportedly immense, with a map that is twice as large as the one found in Skyrim. Players can expect a huge variety of activities that go far beyond simple sword fighting. The gameplay is a wild mix of mechanics, where a player might be fishing one moment, flying on the back of a dragon the next, or even controlling a massive mechanical suit. It appears to take a lot of inspiration from the freedom found in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, giving players a robust toolbox of abilities to solve problems in creative ways. Players will find out just how immersive Crimson Desert is when the game is released on March 19.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79/100 Critics Rec: 75%
- Released
- March 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Pearl Abyss
- Publisher(s)
- Pearl Abyss
A devastating ambush in the deep of night by their sworn enemies the Black Bears leaves members of the Greymanes dead or scattered across the continent. Kliff – having lost his Greymane comrades, his family in all but name – is determined to reunite with the survivors, rebuild the fallen Greymanes, and reclaim what was lost. But on a journey where alliances are forged, dangers abound, and mysterious factions are uncovered, Kliff will come to realize that an unprecedented threat and a destiny greater than he imagined await him.
EXPLORE A LIVING, BREATHING WORLD
Welcome to the open-world of Pywel, a continent filled with mystery, fantasy, and tons to discover. Visit bustling towns and quiet hamlets, venture across vast plains, deserts, and mountains, and explore forgotten ruins, shrines, and other unique landmarks of the continent’s distinct regions. Gather resources, craft, hunt, and partake in the various activities of Pywel to also aid in your journey.
FORGE YOUR OWN COMBAT
The world is yours to explore as you will and there are many paths for you to uncover; ride various mounts from horses to wolves, even a dragon and machines, scale cliffsides and walls which you can leap from to glide, and go through mystical gates to find yourself in the mysterious realm known as the Abyss.
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW JOURNEY
On the unforgiving battlefields of Crimson Desert, there is no single path to victory.
Acquire weapons like swords, spears, and bows, and wield powerful abilities and elemental enhancements. Take advantage of the wide arsenal available to you and create lethal combinations to unleash even greater power.
With every strike and move, forge your own way in a world where a split second can decide your fate in fast-paced, visceral battles.
FACE RELENTLESS CHALLENGES
From ruthless warriors to fearsome beasts, there are those in Pywel who will seek your downfall. Encounter a diverse array of challenging enemies and bosses in brutal one-on-one duels, large-scale battle clashes, and quick skirmishes, and prevail against the threats that stand in your way.
THE BEGINNINGS OF A NEW JOURNEY
On the continent of Pywel, the rival factions of Pailune maintained a tense balance.
At Kliff's side stood his steadfast Greymane comrades: Oongka, Yann, and Naira.
That fragile peace is shattered with the sudden assault of the Black Bears. The Greymanes fall one by one in the ambush. In a desperate struggle against their fearsome leader Myurdin, Kliff and the few Greymanes who survive are scattered to the winds. Kliff, etching the names of his fallen companions into his heart, vows to rebuild the Greymanes and exact vengeance upon the Black Bears. Along this path, he would meet those who seek to upend the very order of the continent and face a mission unlike any he has ever known.
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
- PC Release Date
- March 19, 2026
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 19, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- March 19, 2026
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World, Exploration
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 150 GB
