While Crimson Desert has been selling well since its launch, reports suggest its development process was difficult. Former Pearl Abyss employees anonymously claim the game suffered from a problematic work environment where developers had too much control and leaders dismissed anyone with differing opinions.
I’ve been following the buzz about Crimson Desert, and it’s wild! I saw some interesting posts on Blind – it’s this community just for people working in the game industry, so you know the info’s coming from reliable sources because everyone has to verify their work email. One developer said the game wasn’t originally planned out like it is now. And get this – apparently the ‘Crimson Desert’ itself isn’t actually in the game! They said the story wasn’t locked down until just before it launched, which is kinda crazy.
Internal office conflicts also contributed to the issues. A director’s responsibilities were taken over by a different employee—one with a background in the arts who was promoted to general manager. This new manager then began reversing decisions previously made by the director.
The situation became chaotic when a director was forced out during an internal conflict and resigned. Things changed drastically when a new General Manager with an arts background took over and began reversing previous decisions. This General Manager, and indeed everyone in a leadership position, simply follows orders and lacks independent thought. Their positions aren’t based on merit or initiative, but on their willingness to comply.
It seems Pearl Abyss also struggles with leadership. One commenter described the company’s structure as an “inverted pyramid,” meaning there are too many people in leadership roles compared to regular employees. This same person noted that while many developers knew the game Crimson Desert was facing problems, they felt powerless to fix them.
They explained that management doesn’t appreciate anyone who thinks differently. Instead, they consistently praise their own accomplishments and take credit for good ideas, even if those ideas come from elsewhere.
With so many features awkwardly thrown together, the game’s controls were likely confusing. It seemed almost certain that Crimson Desert would ultimately fail. A company that doesn’t allow honest criticism can’t find a clear path forward.
The team discussed feeling “bittersweet” while watching gameplay of Crimson Desert. They also anticipate that Pearl Abyss might attempt to deflect responsibility by scrutinizing the development process and identifying individuals to blame for the game’s outcome.
Crimson Desert is now available to play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. You can find a detailed review of the game on our site.
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2026-03-23 18:41