Crimson Desert hasn't even launched yet, but the developer's stock has already plummeted by nearly 30% due to negative reviews.

Crimson Desert – an open-world action game developed by Korean studio Pearl Abyss – is scheduled for official release on March 20th on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. At 6:00 AM on March 19th, the media review ban was lifted. On Metacritic, the game currently has a score of 78 – a score considered 'decent' but not quite as explosive as the expectations for a project that has been in development for many years.

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However, the reaction from the financial markets was quite different. According to a report from Chosun Ilbo, Pearl Abyss's stock plummeted during the morning trading session on March 19th (Vietnam time). As of the time of this writing, the stock price had fallen by 19,600 won (approximately 360,000 VND), equivalent to a -28.88% decrease, to 46,000 won (approximately 850,000 VND). Notably, according to data tracked by Google, Pearl Abyss's stock peaked around 3:30 PM the previous day (Korean time) – precisely when the stock market closed. Immediately after the review was published, the trend reversed sharply.

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According to an analysis by Chosun Ilbo, the main reason stems from the mixed reviews Crimson Desert received from international media. While the visuals and combat effects were praised, elements such as control feel and gameplay depth were criticized, affecting investor confidence. This development shows that, with large-scale AAA game projects, professional reviews not only affect the player community but also directly impact the financial market.

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While a score of 78 might not be a failure, the strong reaction of Pearl Abyss stock suggests that expectations for Crimson Desert were extremely high beforehand, and any sign of 'imperfection' is enough to trigger an immediate market reaction.