Crimson Desert Achieves Impressive Sales Milestone Within 24 Hours

Does *Crimson Desert* have the buzz to be a Game of the Year contender, or will its early success fade as more players dive in? Can an activist investor persuade FromSoftware to introduce more microtransactions into its titles? And will we catch a glimpse of CD Projekt Red’s new IP before the next PlayStation arrives? Here’s the latest gaming news and rumors.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Steam’s AI disclosure rules as “nonsensical,” but it seems most developers disagree. A survey of nearly 900 game creators found that 90% opposed Epic’s choice not to implement similar transparency on the Epic Games Store. While Valve celebrates its decision to avoid using generative AI for event promotions, Epic is still facing backlash for recently increasing V-Buck prices, despite winning legal battles for better app store margins.

“We’ve been advocating for competition in mobile stores and payment systems for all developers,” Steve Allison responded to a critique on social media. “When *Fortnite* players purchase V-Bucks through Epic’s payment system instead of Apple or Google’s, they receive 20% back in Epic Rewards, granted instantly for mobile or PC purchases.” It seems the community remains skeptical.

The open-world action-adventure title from Pearl Abyss has launched to impressive numbers, selling over 2 million copies within its first 24 hours. The company expressed gratitude to fans and the community, promising to closely monitor feedback and make swift improvements to enhance the player experience.

*Crimson Desert* is already receiving rapid updates, including a newly added fast-travel point for the main city that wasn’t available in the review version. The game’s unique blend of genres has sparked mixed reactions, with some players captivated by its stunning visuals and expansive world, while others are frustrated by its confusing controls and lackluster narrative. Originally conceived as a prequel to the MMO *Black Desert Online*, it has been in development for about seven years.

Reports indicate that Oasis Management Company has acquired an 8.86% stake in Kadokawa, which owns a significant manga publishing business and FromSoftware. Why does this matter? As noted, the group previously suggested to Nintendo’s president in 2014 that *Mario Maker* should heavily invest in mobile gaming and even charge for power-ups.

Ubisoft has unveiled the main cast and the historical setting for its upcoming game: Rome, circa 64 AD, during Nero’s reign and the Great Fire of Rome. The cast includes Toby Wallace, Lola Petticrew, Laura Marcus, Tanzyn Crawford, Zachary Hart, Claes Bang, and Nabhaan Rizwan. If filming kicks off next year, we might not see it on Netflix until 2028, coinciding with the next *Assassin’s Creed* installment.

In its latest financial report, CD Projekt Red confirmed ongoing work on a new IP, codenamed Hadar, developed internally with its own resources. The team has laid the groundwork for this entirely new project, with multiple prototypes already in development using Unreal Engine 5. Currently, 499 developers are focused on *The Witcher 4*, while 149 are working on *Cyberpunk 2*.

Game director Zaven Haroutunian acknowledged the challenges players face in keeping up with *Diablo 4*, especially those not playing at the forefront. “The team must constantly assess how much change to implement at once and whether it risks overwhelming players,” he stated.

Next month, the game will undergo a significant overhaul with the *Lord of Hatred* expansion. “If a part of the game isn’t functioning well, we need to address it,” Haroutunian added. “No one wants to see an obsolete aspect of the game linger without fulfilling its purpose.”

The renowned martial artist and actor, famous for his roles in martial arts films and the TV series *Walker, Texas Ranger*, has passed away at the age of 86.