Crimson Desert Is Among the Games Inspiring Korean Developers to Pursue More Console Games, Says Shift Up

South Korea’s game industry is increasingly looking beyond its traditional strength in mobile and online games, and Crimson Desert is being seen as part of that shift. Shift Up technical director Dong-ki Lee believes the success of recent Korean titles has encouraged more developers to take on the challenge of making high-profile console games.

Speaking with GamesRadar+ at Gamescom 2026, Lee discussed how Stellar Blade and Lies of P have influenced the local industry. He specifically included Crimson Desert among the games helping to build momentum around Korean-developed console titles.

Crimson Desert Joins Korea’s Growing Console Push

Lee said the success of games such as Stellar Blade and Lies of P showed other Korean studios that there was an opportunity to compete in the console market.

“Games like ours, and also Lies of P, those kinds of games came out in Korea and that really made developers in Korea go take up the challenge for console games more,”

Lee explained.

He then pointed to Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert as another important example, adding,

“And we have Crimson Desert now as well, so they’re having all this influence on each other, so that’s really good.”

His comments suggest that these games are not operating in isolation but are collectively demonstrating what Korean studios can achieve outside the country’s historically dominant mobile and online sectors.

Crimson Desert is particularly notable because Pearl Abyss moved away from the MMO-focused approach associated with its Black Desert franchise to create a single-player open-world action-adventure game. The game launched on March 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mac, according to Pearl Abyss. Pearl Abyss

Set across the fantasy continent of Pywel, the game follows Kliff and the Greymanes through a story involving warfare, political conflict and mysterious forces. Its large open world, cinematic presentation and action-heavy combat have made it one of the most ambitious single-player projects to emerge from a Korean studio.

Lee’s comments also place Crimson Desert alongside Stellar Blade and Lies of P as part of a broader change in perception around Korean game development. Rather than simply following established trends, more studios now appear willing to invest in original premium experiences aimed at global console and PC audiences.

That makes Crimson Desert significant beyond Pearl Abyss itself. Its success or continued momentum could help reinforce the idea that Korean developers can establish major franchises in the global single-player console market.