Crimson Desert is on Track to be One of the Best-Selling Games of 2026

Crimson Desert has sold more than 5 million copies in its first month, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. For a moment, it was uncertain how the game would fare, thanks to a long, delay-filled release and some minor controversies arising right before launch. Now the big question surrounding Crimson Desert is not whether it’ll be a hit, but how long it can keep up its remarkable hot streak.

Things didn’t always look so good for Pearl Abyss’s massive medieval action-adventure. Initial reviews were mixed, but Crimson Desert pulled off an unusually quick recovery, managing to increase its player count and Steam rating in less than two weeks as devs rushed to fix some of the most common complaints. While many games have rebuilt their reputation after floundering at launch, that typically takes months, if not years, but Crimson Desert did it in days, and the results are sure to please Pearl Abyss and its investors.

Crimson Desert Developer Shares Skyrocket After Recent Sales Announcement

As Crimson Desert continues to break milestones on top of retaining its playerbase, Pearl Abyss’ stock shoots back up by a considerable margin.

Crimson Desert is Already One of the Best-Selling New Games of 2026

On the morning of April 15, Pearl Abyss shared that Crimson Desert had passed 5 million copies sold. That’s an impressive figure in any context but all the more so in light of the game having released less than a month ago. It’s also only been three weeks since Crimson Desert passed the 3 million mark, meaning the title is still maintaining a breakneck pace. Things may have slowed slightly since the first week, but that’s typical of any game, and even if sales slow further, as can be expected, Crimson Desert has already sold enough to put it in contention for the best-selling games of the year, depending on how future releases go.

Crimson Desert does not currently hold the title of number one best-seller of the year, as Resident Evil Requiem sold 6 million copies in just over two weeks, but passing 5 million does place it comfortably ahead of most other new releases so far. According to Circana data on the best-selling games of 2026, Resident Evil Requiem was the only game that actually came out in 2026 to land in the top 10 by the end of February. If Crimson Desert is roughly a million or so units shy of the Requiem, which also holds the number one spot, it’s likely within reach when only looking at 2026 releases.

There is still plenty of year left to go, but Crimson Desert has gotten off to a strong start. The game also does not appear to be losing much steam. As of early April, Crimson Desert‘s Steam player count had barely dipped below its all-time peak. It likely helps that the game’s map is far larger than many other open-world titles, and there are plenty of side quests to pursue. Players can easily sink hundreds of hours into the game, which helps keep its active user base up. In turn, the game stays in the conversation and can catch other gamers’ eyes to encourage more sales, which sets it up for a big first year if it can continue on its current trajectory.

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Of course, even if Crimson Desert can keep the good times rolling, it’s unlikely to be the absolute best-seller of 2026. The giant shadow of Grand Theft Auto is approaching, and even though that game will have far fewer months to make a splash, it has years of hype and a record-breaking predecessor to back it up. Rockstar has gone so far as to say GTA 6 will be the largest game launch in history, so the likes of Crimson Desert and Resident Evil Requiem won’t likely dethrone it. Still, Pearl Abyss may have done enough to put its latest title among the top.