Crimson Desert has proven a smash hit since its launch last month, quickly shooting past four million worldwide sales roughly two weeks after its release. It has proven so fruitful that the prime minister of South Korea has heaped praise on the game in recent days.
Prime minister Kim Min-seok, posting on his personal social media account, said the game had opened “a new chapter in K-content”. He also added that the game was a “crucial turning point” for the national games industry, and that the South Korean gaming industry can “leap forward across diverse platforms, including consoles.”
In terms of specific praise on the game itself, Kim Min-seok pointed to the in-house technology used to create the game, as opposed to using a game engine from a western company. He also mentioned the game’s inclusion of South Korean food and taekwondo.
Crimson Desert stands as a recent example of domestic South Korean games doing well internationally. Lies of P was an explosive success from Neowiz, as the company shifted towards triple-A games. On top of that, Stellar Blade arguably led the charge in this rise in South Korean game development, with the CEO earning a medal of honour from the government.
Crimson Desert itself has proven its merit post-launch. It has received multiple patches full of quality of life improvements and even adjustments to boss difficulty. If you’ve not had a chance to play the game yet, Eurogamer’s Crimson Desert review breaks down its quirks and faults.
