Crimson Desert shows strong pre launch sales and wishlist growth ahead of release

Crimson Desert has generated over $20 million in pre launch Steam sales and strong wishlist growth

Crimson Desert is showing strong early performance ahead of its release, with pre-launch data indicating high player interest and early sales momentum.

Developed by Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert, the title has been in development for seven years. Originally conceived as an MMO prequel, it has evolved into a standalone open-world action game set in the continent of Pywel.

The game is scheduled to release on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox on March 17. Pre-launch estimates suggest the game has already generated more than $20 million in revenue on Steam, with close to 400,000 copies sold before release.

Over 10 per cent of those sales reportedly occurred within a 24-hour period, generating approximately $2.6 million as marketing activity increased.

Interest in the game has also been reflected in wishlist data. Crimson Desert has reached around 3 million wishlists across platforms, with an estimated 2.2 million on Steam alone. The title has added more than 1 million new wishlists since early February.

Comparisons with recent releases indicate that Crimson Desert is tracking ahead of titles such as Expedition 33 and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 at a similar pre-launch stage. However, longer-term performance will depend on post-launch reception and player engagement.

Pearl Abyss has focused on community communication during the lead-up to release. The studio has clarified that the game is an action-adventure title rather than a traditional role-playing game and has addressed concerns about performance and monetisation.

“I can say that definitively: there is not a cosmetic cash shop. This is made to be a premium experience that you buy and you enjoy the world, and not something for microtransactions … This is a premium experience. That is the transaction. Full stop,” said marketing director Will Powers.