Crimson Desert has received recognition from the South Korean Prime Minister following its five million sales milestone.
Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert has received a shoutout from South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who praised the game for “elevating the status of the South Korean gaming industry on the global stage” and opening “a new chapter for K-content”. The statement also mentions the government's commitment to provide active support to foster Korean games.
The statement comes as Crimson Desert becomes the fastest Korean-produced console game to achieve five million sales, reaching the milestone in just 26 days.
A remarkable start to Crimson Desert’s journey
Crimson Desert, a massive open-world RPG, launched on 20 March to a somewhat mixed early reception. Praises were directed at its immersive environmental design and combat creativity, but many also pointed out its lack of narrative depth and certain technical issues.
However, Pearl Abyss was quick on their feet to tackle the criticism, rolling out a series of updates and improvements at a rapid pace, with its 1.04 patch arriving just four days ago. The studio’s swift action has clearly borne fruit, resulting in a successful turnaround.
Over the past month, the game has steadily grown in popularity, with feedback becoming increasingly positive. Its Steam reviews has flourished from an overall “Mixed” status to now boasting “Very Positive” reviews. This change is also reflected in its rising sales, which reached 5 million copies as of 15 April 2026. On Steam alone, the game peaked at nearly 280,000 concurrent players on 29 March, and now averages over 100,000 daily players.
This achievement places Crimson Desert firmly in blockbuster territory, alongside major AAA titles such as Resident Evil Requiem and Dragon’s Dogma 2. In comparison with other South Korean studio-developed games such as Stellar Blade by Shift Up and Lost Ark by Smilegate, Crimson Desert’s performance has significantly surpassed expectations.
This is particularly notable for a console-focused release, marking a shift in South Korea’s traditionally stronger presence in PC and mobile gaming—most notably through titles such as KRAFTON’s PUBG franchise.
But that's not all that Koreans could be proud of. Crimson Desert also features elements of Korean culture woven into its gameplay, including the ability to cook traditional dishes such as bibimbap (Great Harvest Bowl), do combat inspired by Korean martial arts such as taekwondo, and seeing architectural designs across the world of Pywel that draw from Korean influences.
What the South Korean prime minister said about Crimson Desert
The game’s success, achieved just over a month after release, has also drawn attention from the South Korean government, prompting Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to publicly congratulate Pearl Abyss and its flagship title.
The full statement, posted on X/Twitter (translated from Korean via the platform), reads:
“Achieved 5 million sales in the shortest time in Korean console game history, just 26 days after release.
We sincerely congratulate the achievement of Crimson Desert, which has elevated the status of the Korean game industry on the global stage.
A living game world crafted entirely with its own technology from start to finish, photorealistic graphics, and proactive communication that has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. By naturally incorporating Korean elements such as taekwondo and Korean cuisine, it has opened a new chapter in K-content.
This accomplishment serves as a crucial turning point, demonstrating that the domestic game industry can expand and advance across diverse platforms, including consoles.
The government will also take responsibility and provide active support. We will create an environment where K-games can shine as a pillar of K-content.”
