Crimson Desert reviews fail to meet the hype as Pearl Abyss shares tumble 29%

In a nutshell: For years now, Crimson Desert trailers and teasers have looked so good that many thought the game couldn't possibly live up to the previews, much like when No Man's Sky launched. The RPG arrives later today, and the early reviews are… pretty underwhelming. The failure to meet expectations has resulted in developer Pearl Abyss' shares falling almost 29%.

With its incredible open world, massive battles, flight, and stunning looks powered by Pearl Abyss' proprietary BlackSpace engine, Crimson Desert was one of our most anticipated PC games of 2026.

But as is so often the case with hugely hyped games, most early reviews have been far from earth-shattering. Many big publications have scored it between 60 and 70 – even IGN, which has a reputation for generous scoring, has given it a 6 in its "review so far."

A lot of the criticism has been aimed at ...