"Crimson Desert Is on Track for a Killer Launch on Steam"

According to market researchers at Alinea Analytics, "Crimson Desert is on track for a killer launch on Steam". The action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss is set to launch worldwide across all platforms simultaneously on 19 March at 15:00 PT / 22:00 GMT / 07:00 KST.

The researchers estimate that, by 16 March, the game sold over 400,000 copies on Steam alone, generating gross revenues of over $20 million. This means it is outperforming Kingdom Come: Deliverance II by almost four times ($5.2 million) and Expedition 33 by almost ten times ($2.4 million) at the same point in their respective lifecycles. However, both games demonstrate that a strong start is only the beginning: fuelled by long-term word of mouth, they went on to generate $95.5 million and $101.3 million on Steam respectively by day 120.

Last week, the game surpassed 3 million wishlists. Alinea estimates that 2.2 million of these were on Steam. "It's worth noting that for a successful $70 AAA game, wishlist-to-buyer conversion is typically pretty low, 6-7% a week after launch," Alinea continues. The relatively late start of the marketing campaign is also highlighted, including the gameplay reveal and recent in-depth looks at new features.

"But where Pearl Abyss has really hit it out of the park is in quelling vocal online crowds, actively listening to the community, and responding with what gamers really want to hear. It feels authentic. PR and Marketing Director @WillJPowers has been the primary face of this effort, adopting an unusually direct communication style. Candidly, it's refreshing amid the sea of PR drivel we usually get. Authenticity wins." - Alinea Analytics

Ultimately, though, the game still needs to prove that its open-world sandbox will live up to the trailers and previews. Rhys Elliott, Alinea's Head of Market Analysis, expects the game to become the second title to earn over $150 million on Steam after Resident Evil Requiem in 2026.