Crimson Desert Outpaces Elden Ring in First-Month Player Retention

Pearl Abyss’s single-player RPG *Crimson Desert* retained more than half of its concurrent players during the first month after launch, according to a Forbes analysis. The title sold roughly five million copies in that period and launched at $70, compared with *Elden Ring*’s $60 price. *Elden Ring* showed a slightly lower first-month retention rate, although its all-time concurrent player peaks remain higher than those of *Crimson Desert*.

Forbes

• Retention: > 50 % of concurrent players after one month (Forbes).

Forbes

• Sales: ~5 million copies sold (Forbes).

One Month On, Crimson Desert's Player Retention Is Higher Than Elden Ring's

• Only about 20 % of *Crimson Desert* players have earned the achievement for reaching Chapter 7, the game’s midpoint (TheGamer).

Almost 80 Percent Of Crimson Desert Players Still Haven't Reached The Halfway Point

*Crimson Desert* blends sandbox exploration with MMO-style systems, offering a vast open world without built-in multiplayer. Players have built an active community on Reddit, Discord, and other platforms, sharing guides, uncovering hidden cues (e.g., stone stacks that mark buried treasure), and posting memes that ease frustration. Moderated subreddits maintain a “wholesome” tone, and community-driven discoveries—such as the “150 unwanted birds” pet-hunting stunt—have become shared experiences that keep players engaged beyond the core narrative. Weekly patches have added quality-of-life improvements, new armor sets, mounts, and pets, reinforcing a content-update loop that sustains interest.

Crimson Desert is an amazing game, but it wouldn't be nearly as great without its enthusiastic community

Internal reports of narrative discord have limited discussion of the story online. Only a minority of players progress past the halfway point, with roughly one-fifth reaching Chapter 7. Observers note that the sandbox emphasis outweighs narrative depth, leading many to prioritize exploration over story completion.

Almost 80 Percent Of Crimson Desert Players Still Haven't Reached The Halfway Point

Sources differ on how retention success should be interpreted. While *Crimson Desert* shows higher month-one retention, *Elden Ring* maintains larger overall concurrent player counts. Precise daily-peak numbers and long-term retention trends are not disclosed in the available sources, and the sources do not contain an official comment from Pearl Abyss on the comparative metrics.

Forbes

• “In its first month of release, Crimson Desert has retained over half its concurrent players, a wild marker for a single-player game, as those normally have understandably rapid falloff.” — Paul Tassi, Forbes

Forbes

• “It's increasingly hard for me to not view Crimson Desert as a multiplayer game.” — Fraser Brown, PC Gamer

Crimson Desert is an amazing game, but it wouldn't be nearly as great without its enthusiastic community

• “Barely Anyone Is Bothered With Crimson Desert's Story First reported by PC Gamer, it seems as though Crimson Desert players on Steam aren't too bothered about going through the game's story, as only a little over 20 percent of players have the achievement for reaching Chapter 7, the game's halfway mark.” — TheGamer staff

Almost 80 Percent Of Crimson Desert Players Still Haven't Reached The Halfway Point

• “Players Prefer Staying In Pywel Over The Lands Between As reported by Forbes, it appears that Crimson Desert has held on to more players a month after launch than Elden Ring did in the same time period.” — TheGamer staff

One Month On, Crimson Desert's Player Retention Is Higher Than Elden Ring's

Upcoming patches are planned to add replayable enemy forts and bosses, a New Game+ mode, and future DLC. These additions are part of the ongoing development plan.

Forbes