Crimson Desert Generates $190.1 Million, Ranks No. 3 Among Steam’s Highest-Grossing New Games in the First Half of 2026

Crimson Desert has emerged as one of Steam’s biggest commercial successes of 2026, generating $190.1 million in new-release revenue during the first half of the year.

According to a report by Alinea Analytics, the highly anticipated action-adventure title from Pearl Abyss secured third place in Steam’s 2026 new-release revenue rankings, trailing only Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem.

The figures highlight the growing global appeal of Korean-developed premium games. The performance comes as Steam recorded $11.1 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026, marking a 14.5% year-over-year increase and its strongest six-month period on record.

Crimson Desert sets a new milestone for Pearl Abyss

Built using Pearl Abyss’ proprietary BlackSpace Engine, Crimson Desert launched on March 20 and quickly established itself as one of the company’s biggest successes. The game sold 2 million copies on its first day and surpassed 6 million copies within 83 days, making it the fastest-selling Korean console game in history.

The achievement is particularly significant because the game is an entirely original franchise rather than an established series. Lys Elliott, an analyst at Alinea Analytics, praised the accomplishment, stating,

“Its achievement is particularly notable as a completely new intellectual property (IP).”

The title finished just behind Forza Horizon 6, which generated $197.7 million, and Resident Evil Requiem with $194.5 million, placing Crimson Desert among the year’s strongest premium PC launches.

Steam continues record-breaking growth

The same report also revealed that Subnautica 2, developed by Unknown Worlds, a Krafton subsidiary, ranked fifth with $133.6 million in revenue. Released in Early Access, the survival adventure reached the top of Steam’s global sales chart on launch day and reportedly has more than 5.6 million wishlists, indicating strong long-term sales potential.

Alinea Analytics attributed Steam’s record-breaking first-half performance to several factors, including increased player activity across Asia, rising premium game prices, and continued demand for cooperative multiplayer experiences. With Crimson Desert already becoming one of 2026’s highest-grossing new releases, Pearl Abyss has delivered one of the year’s biggest commercial victories while establishing a powerful new franchise for the global gaming market.