Pearl Abyss, the developer behind the upcoming open-world action-adventure game Crimson Desert and the Black Desert franchise, has announced that it’s partnering with Plaion for physical distribution of the aforementioned game around the world.
Plaion has 15 regional publishing offices around the globe, making it a strategic choice for Pearl Abyss as it continues its global expansion.
Additionally, Plaion also wishes to show its influence in the Asia Pacific region, which this distribution partnership does.
While Plaion takes the reins on physical distribution, Pearl Abyss will continue to work as its own digital publisher.
Kevin Kim, CBO at Pearl Abyss, explained more:
“PLAION is already proving to be a strong partner for Pearl Abyss as we continue to grow in overseas markets. Partnering with PLAION with their global footprint will allow us to bring Crimson Desert to even more fans around the world. We are pleased to partner with a physical game distributor that shares our ambitious vision of an adventure set in the beautiful yet brutal continent of Pywel.”
Craig McNicol, CEO at Plaion Partners, also spoke about the partnership with Pearl Abyss:
“We are proud to work with Pearl Abyss to bring Crimson Desert to players across the globe. Our global footprint and experienced territory teams will bring fans the incredible experience of Crimson Desert. This collaboration is a testament to PLAION’s growing commitment to and strength in the Asia Pacific region and highlights our ongoing mission to become a global force in videogame publishing.”
Crimson Desert, the object of this partnership, is coming in Q1 next year. The game follows Kliff, the leader of a mercenary group called the Greymanes. They’re working to save the world of Pywel.
Those looking forward to the new IP can see the war-torn world and brutal combat system, which was shown off a bit at Gamescom 2025. Last year’s Gamescom also saw the preview of several boss fights, including those against Reed Devil, Staglord, and Queen Stoneback.
In fact, Gamescom has been a big stage for the upcoming game. It was nominated in several 2025 Gamescom Awards, including Best Visuals, Most Epic, Best Microsoft Xbox Game, and Best Sony PlayStation Game.
There’s also been plenty revealed in the past, including nearly an hour of early gameplay footage.
Crimson Desert will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S when it releases in Q1 of 2026.
