Pearl Abyss’s stock plummets following the release of Crimson Desert reviews
The South Korean company’s shares fell 29% amid investor disappointment.
Pearl Abyss is feeling the fallout from the first reviews of ‘Crimson Desert,’ one of the most anticipated video games of the year. Despite all the hype surrounding its release and strong initial sales (more than 400,000 copies pre-ordered before launch), the press reviews have caused a significant drop in the developer’s stock price.
According to a report by the South Korean publication Seoul Economic Daily, Pearl Abyss’s stock fell by 29% shortly after the reviews were released. Apparently, many investors had expected ‘Crimson Desert’ to achieve an average score of 90 out of 100 on Metacritic, which would have made it one of the best video games of recent years. However, the reality turned out to be quite different, as the title currently holds a score of 78 out of 100. Although this remains a fantastic score, sales appear to be strong, and some critics are delighted with the game, the truth is that the initial financial results are not positive.
Crimson Desert divides players
Beyond its impact on Pearl Abyss’s stock price, the fact is that Crimson Desert has already become one of the most talked-about releases of 2026. Most press reviews agree that the game’s open world is overwhelming, both in terms of its scale and its graphics. The cities, the animations, the draw distance, the weather… All these aspects left critics speechless. However, the game also divides opinion when it comes to the combat system, mission design, and narrative.
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In their review, our colleagues in Spain note that Crimson Desert seems to like a video game with tremendous potential, but that it hasn’t quite reached the level of the top titles yet. They think it does a wonderful job of conveying a sense of adventure, and loved the epic feel of its battles, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a rather clunky game, full of uninteresting “errand” missions.
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