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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Pearl Abyss Europe CEO Lybee Park says critics had limited time with a pre-launch build and may not have seen the exploration and details she considers central to Crimson Desert. That is her explanation for the gap between the reviews and the response she perceived from players—not proof that critics were wrong or that players shared one view. The sales figure also needs a correction: Pearl Abyss officially confirmed more than 5 million copies sold worldwide, while 7 million has not been confirmed by the sources available.
What Lybee Park said about the reviews
In an interview with The Game Business, as reported by VGC on October 9, 2026, Park was asked about what VGC described as a very positive player response alongside a 77 Metacritic score. She said critics played a build that was not the exact launch version and had limited time to review it. In her view, a review focused on the main quest could miss the smaller details and freedom to explore that she sees as central to the game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Crimson Desert: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Perp The Persistence Enhanced Amélioré(e) Anglais PlayStation 5 | $18.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
“I do believe both parties have fair points, especially the critics,” she said. “They had to play a build that was not the exact same version as the launch game.
“Also, they had limited time. Usually the classical approach when they review the game is following the main quest line, but with Crimson Desert, our unique charm is spread all over our in-game world. All those tiny details that are hidden, the freedom to actually explore even further beyond the common expectations.
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Crimson Desert: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5
- Join Kliff, captain of the Greymanes, and his comrades as they embark on a relentless journey to defend Pywel and fulfill their mission.
- Along your perilous path stands both dependable allies and countless foes who will stop at nothing to see your downfall.
- Face trials to uncover the truth of the catastrophe looming over Pywel and restore peace to the continent.
- Explore the mesmerizing landscapes of the continent where mystical beings, hidden treasures, and thrilling adventures await.
- Pre-order to receive the Khaled Shield (Pre Order Code on Receipt). PS5 Editions include the Grotevant Plate Set DLC as a PS5 exclusive bonus. (In Pack DLC Voucher). Bonus DLC Includes: Grotevan Plate Helm, Grotevan Plate Armor, along with Grotevan cloak, gloves, and boots!
“So all those unique bits and interesting new, freshened-up bits, I don’t think critics had a fair chance to explore those and experience them while in those reviewing periods.”
These are Park’s reasons for why she believes reviews may not have captured the game’s appeal. They do not establish that the review build materially differed in a way that changed scores, or that critics as a group lacked a fair opportunity; they report her perspective. VGC attributes the remarks to Park in an interview with The Game Business. VGC’s report provides the published quotation and context.
What the 77 Metacritic score tells you
VGC cited a Metacritic score of 77 when describing the question put to Park. Treat that as the score reported in VGC’s October 9, 2026 article, not a permanent or necessarily current rating: aggregate scores can change as reviews are added. The cited passage does not specify the platform version or review count.
Rank #2
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
The available sources do not provide a comparable player-score series or a measured statistic for how positive players’ response was. Park’s description of that response is an attributed characterization, not a quantified comparison. A critic aggregate and an executive’s account of player sentiment are different kinds of evidence; neither alone establishes what all players think.
Has Crimson Desert sold 7 million copies?
Not on the basis of an official milestone in the sources cited here. Pearl Abyss stated that Crimson Desert surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide. The announcement’s text gives April 15, 2026 as the milestone date, although the press-release page is dated May 6, 2026. Pearl Abyss’s announcement is the official confirmation.
A GameReactor GRTV transcript mentions sales above 6 million and speculates that the total may be near 7 million. That tentative remark is not an official confirmation of 7 million, and the transcript’s publication date is not established in the retrieved result. Without a newer publisher announcement or filing, the accurate claim is that the 7 million figure remains unconfirmed. The GameReactor transcript is the source for the tentative figure.
Rank #3
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
Why reviews and sales should be kept separate
Reviews reflect critics’ assessments under their review conditions; sales record copies sold over time. Strong sales do not demonstrate that reviews were unfair, just as a review aggregate does not show how every player feels. The available sources do not give a comparable player-score series or sales broken down by platform, so they cannot quantify a gap between critic and player opinion or connect sales to a specific platform or reception trend.
Pearl Abyss lists Crimson Desert for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Apple Mac in its announcement. The sales milestone is worldwide, not a platform-by-platform breakdown.
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