South Korean PM Praises Crimson Desert Milestone

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok praised the video game Crimson Desert on Thursday, hailing its rapid commercial success as a milestone that has opened a new chapter for the nation's cultural content exports.

Developed and published by Pearl Abyss, the open-world action-adventure title launched on March 19 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It sold more than five million copies worldwide within 26 days, marking the fastest-selling console game in South Korean history. By April 15, sales exceeded that figure, with the studio maintaining strong momentum through weekly gains averaging one million units.

Even a month after release, Crimson Desert has sustained exceptional player engagement on Steam. Its 24-hour peak reached 134,225 concurrent players, surpassing several live-service titles including Marvel Rivals at 133,145, Arc Raiders at 104,355, and Battlefield 6 at 57,117. This retention outpaces that of Elden Ring at a comparable post-launch point in 2022, a rare feat for a single-player open-world game.

In a post on X, Kim commended Pearl Abyss for creating "a living game world" using its proprietary technology from start to finish. He highlighted the game's...