adminCrimson Desert was the main driver of Pearl Abyss’s sharply higher first-quarter results, following the game’s March 19 launch. The South Korean developer reported operating revenue of ₩328.5 billion ($220.6 million), up 419.8% year over year. Its results also show where the game’s sales came from and how the company expects its performance to develop.
Image credit: Pearl Abyss
Crimson Desert drives Pearl Abyss Q1 revenue growth
Pearl Abyss reported operating profit of ₩212.1 billion ($142.5 million), compared with ₩7.9 billion ($5.3 million) in the same quarter a year earlier. Net profit reached ₩170 billion ($114.2 million), up from ₩7.7 billion ($5.1 million).
Crimson Desert generated ₩266.5 billion ($179.1 million) in revenue. Sales were evenly split between console and PC, making the title the key contributor to the company’s quarter. When comparing these figures, it is useful to distinguish revenue from operating profit and net profit: they are separate measures of a company’s financial results.
Sales by region and platform
More than 80% of Crimson Desert sales came from North America and Europe. Across Pearl Abyss’s total operating revenue, those regions represented 81%, while Asia contributed 13% and Korea 6%.
By platform, PC accounted for 59% of revenue, consoles for 38% and mobile for 3%. Console revenue rose 31% quarter on quarter after the game’s release. Pearl Abyss also noted that console revenue is recorded after platform fees, while PC revenue is recorded after taxes are deducted from user payments. This accounting distinction matters when comparing platform figures.
The Black Desert franchise remained stable quarter on quarter, generating ₩61.6 billion ($41.4 million).
Pearl Abyss forecasts and Crimson Desert updates
Pearl Abyss forecast operating revenue of between ₩879 billion ($560.4 million) and ₩975.4 billion ($665.2 million). Its projected Crimson Desert operating revenue was between ₩644.1 billion ($432.6 million) and ₩734.8 billion ($493.2 million).
The company expects Crimson Desert revenue to fall in Q2 because initial package sales are concentrated earlier in the release cycle. It anticipates more stable performance as it delivers patches and updates. Plans also include expanding the game’s platform availability and releasing additional downloadable content (DLC). For players following the title, future updates and platform announcements will be the clearest indicators of how the game’s ongoing support develops.
Other Pearl Abyss projects and company changes
Pearl Abyss is working on two other titles. DokeV is in pre-production, while Plan 8 remains at the conceptualisation stage. The company aims to release new titles every two to three years.
The company also sold Fenris Creations, formerly CCP Games, back to its CEO for $120 million. Pearl Abyss had acquired the Icelandic developer in 2018 for $225 million in cash, with a further $200 million in performance-related payouts. Fenris Creations said the transition would not involve restructuring or layoffs. Pearl Abyss stated that it would remain open to potential collaboration opportunities.
What the results mean
Crimson Desert’s launch sharply lifted Pearl Abyss’s Q1 revenue, with sales concentrated in North America and Europe and split across PC and consoles. The company expects an initial Q2 decline as launch sales ease, while updates, DLC and platform expansion are intended to support the game over time.
