Overview
Pearl Abyss has confirmed that Crimson Desert will launch without microtransactions. The game is positioned as a premium buy-to-play experience where the purchase price covers the full game content. This announcement carries particular significance given Pearl Abyss's history with Black Desert Online, a massively multiplayer game known for its extensive microtransaction economy.
Official statements
Will Powers, Pearl Abyss's PR and marketing director, provided the most direct statement on the subject. In interviews, Powers stated: "This is made to be a premium experience that you buy and enjoy the world, and not something for microtransactions." He further clarified the business model by describing the $69.99 retail price as "the transaction, full stop."
These statements leave little room for ambiguity about the game's launch monetization strategy. There are no in-game stores selling currency packs, no premium cosmetic shops, and no battle pass systems at launch. The price of admission covers access to the full game, including all story content, open world activities, combat systems, and customization options.
Supported revenue model
While microtransactions are absent, Pearl Abyss has outlined several alternative revenue streams for Crimson Desert:
Pre-order bonuses: Exclusive items like the Khaled Shield are available to players who purchase the game before release
Deluxe edition cosmetics: Higher-priced editions include exclusive cosmetic sets (armor, horse tack, weapons) not available in the standard edition
Collector's edition physical items: A premium physical edition includes a diorama, SteelBook, and other collectibles
Expansion packs: Post-launch content will be delivered through paid expansion packs rather than microtransaction-funded live service updates
This model follows the traditional premium game approach where additional content is sold as discrete, defined packages rather than through drip-fed purchasable items. For details on specific edition contents and pricing, see the pricing and editions article.
Context with Black Desert Online
The no-microtransaction commitment represents a deliberate departure from Pearl Abyss's most well-known title, Black Desert Online (BDO). BDO launched as a buy-to-play game but quickly developed an extensive cash shop selling costumes, convenience items, inventory expansions, and enhancement materials. The game's microtransaction model became one of its most discussed and criticized features among the player community.
By explicitly distancing Crimson Desert from that model, Pearl Abyss is acknowledging the criticism that surrounded BDO's monetization and signaling that the new game represents a different design philosophy. The studio is betting that the premium price point combined with expansion-based post-launch support will generate sufficient revenue without the controversy and player friction that microtransactions often introduce.
The "at launch" caveat
It is worth noting a specific detail in the official messaging. Powers's statements consistently reference the game's launch state. The phrase "at launch" appears in descriptions of the no-microtransaction policy, which leaves the door open for potential changes after the initial release period.
This caveat does not necessarily indicate plans to add microtransactions later. Many studios use similar language to preserve flexibility without committing to a permanent policy. However, players tracking the game's monetization should be aware that the current confirmation applies specifically to the launch window. Pearl Abyss has not made a permanent, lifetime commitment to a microtransaction-free model. Whether the policy holds long-term will likely depend on the game's sales performance and the reception of its expansion-based revenue model.
Player reception
The no-microtransaction announcement was received positively by the gaming community, particularly among players who had been wary of Pearl Abyss's involvement due to BDO's monetization history. The commitment helped shift the conversation around Crimson Desert from skepticism about potential pay-to-win mechanics to enthusiasm about the game's content and gameplay systems.
The $69.99 price point is standard for current-generation premium games and is accepted by most consumers as a fair baseline for a full-featured single-player or single-player-focused experience. By committing to that price as "the transaction, full stop," Pearl Abyss has aligned Crimson Desert with consumer expectations for a premium game rather than a live-service product.