A Korean developer has reportedly rejected Sony’s offer to make its upcoming game a timed PS5 console exclusive. According to a financial blogger who attended the Kiwoom Securities Corporate Day, developer Pearl Abyss was offered a deal by Sony to make its action-adventure game Crimson Desert a timed PS5 console exclusive, but it refused.
Why Pearl Abyss refused to make Crimson Desert a timed PS5 console exclusive
Discussing its financials at the aforementioned investor relations event (via ResetEra), Pearl Abyss reportedly disclosed that it was offered a contract by Sony that would have kept Crimson Desert off of Xbox platforms for a “certain period of time.”
The studio rejected the offer because it determined that it would earn higher profits by self-publishing and releasing Crimson Desert on as many platforms as possible. Interestingly, Pearl Abyss reportedly told stakeholders that Sony likened aspects of Crimson Desert to its hit game, Ghost of Tsushima.
Pearl Abyss likely took some notes from fellow Korean dev Shift Up, who has mentioned on numerous occasions that despite its success, Stellar Blade would have sold a lot more had it not been restricted by an exclusivity deal.
It’s worth mentioning, however, that Stellar Blade didn’t benefit from a simultaneous PC launch. The game was released solely on the PS5 because Sony helped with the game’s funding and development.
