Sony, one of the biggest players in the gaming industry, recently attempted to secure a timed PlayStation exclusivity deal with Pearl Abyss, the developers behind the highly anticipated Crimson Desert. However, despite Sony’s marketing power and incentives, Pearl Abyss ultimately turned down the offer. This decision sent ripples throughout the gaming community, particularly as Sony has a history of securing exclusivity deals that benefit both parties involved.
Sony’s Rejected Proposal to Pearl Abyss
In the highly competitive world of gaming, exclusivity deals are a common strategy used by platform holders to secure blockbuster titles for their consoles. According to reports, Sony approached Pearl Abyss with an offer to act as the publisher for Crimson Desert. This deal would have made Crimson Desert a PlayStation exclusive for one year, with no Xbox release during that period. Additionally, Sony would have held the PC distribution rights, ensuring the game would not be available on other platforms for a significant time.
The lure of having Sony’s marketing resources behind their game would have been appealing to any developer. Sony, with its vast experience in launching exclusive titles, could have boosted Crimson Desert’s visibility and sales. The PlayStation brand alone carries immense weight, particularly in the open-world action-adventure genre, where Sony’s track record with titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War speaks for itself.
Why Pearl Abyss Turned Down the Offer?
While the offer from Sony might have been tempting, Pearl Abyss ultimately decided to reject the deal. One of the key reasons behind this decision was the studio’s ability to self-publish. In a translated report from the developer’s investor relations, Pearl Abyss made it clear that while Sony’s proposal was appealing, they had the internal resources and infrastructure to handle the global publishing of Crimson Desert themselves.
The developer cited several reasons for their decision:
- Control Over Publishing: Pearl Abyss has overseas branches and the capability to handle publishing independently, which reduces the need for a third-party publisher like Sony.
- Revenue Sharing: In a typical publishing deal, 30% of revenue goes to platform fees, with the remaining 70% split between the developer and publisher. By self-publishing, Pearl Abyss would be able to retain a larger portion of the profits, which makes financial sense for a studio of their size and experience.
- Long-Term Strategy: Pearl Abyss has been successful with Black Desert Online, their massively popular MMORPG. They’ve already proven they can successfully manage and promote their own games without external help, making self-publishing a more attractive long-term strategy.
But Later, Pearl Abyss Responded to The Speculation
In response to Eurogamer‘s inquiry, Pearl Abyss made it clear that they intend to self-publish Crimson Desert, reinforcing their commitment to independence while still maintaining an open line of communication with various business partners.
The developer stated during a recent quarter earnings call that the company would handle the publishing of Crimson Desert internally. Pearl Abyss underscored the importance of this decision, mentioning their appreciation for existing business partners and indicating that discussions were ongoing regarding potential collaborations, though not in a publishing capacity.
Pearl Abyss’s position highlights the company’s ambition to chart its own course, especially with such a highly anticipated title. This independent route mirrors the path they took with Black Desert, one of the most successful MMORPGs on the market, which has allowed them to maintain creative control while collaborating selectively with platform holders like Sony and Microsoft.
With the rejection of Sony’s exclusivity offer, Crimson Desert is set to become a major multiplatform release. The game, which blends open-world exploration with action-adventure elements, is already generating significant buzz in the gaming community. Pearl Abyss has also promised to showcase a playable build of the game to media later this year, which will give fans a closer look at what to expect.
As for DokeV, Pearl Abyss’ other highly anticipated project, the developer revealed that the game’s release has been delayed. Originally set for a 2023 launch, DokeV is now expected to arrive around 18 months after the release of Crimson Desert. This delay gives Pearl Abyss more time to refine the game and ensure it meets the high expectations set by fans.