Pearl Abyss's latest open-world action-adventure title, Crimson Desert, hit the ground running. Since its official launch on the 20th, it managed to smash through a peak of 239,000 Concurrent Players on Steam within just two hours.

To put things into perspective, that’s a figure that comfortably eclipses the records set by previous homegrown hits like Lies of P or Stellar Blade. As of 9:00 AM on the 20th, it sits at 74th on Steam’s all-time peak Concurrent Players list, leapfrogging titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Dragon's Dogma 2, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

However, the initial reception from players is, well, a mixed bag. With over 1,000 reviews tallied in a short window, it currently holds a 'Mixed' rating with roughly 62 percent positive feedback. The consensus? Players are genuinely impressed by the visual fidelity and optimisation achieved via the developer's proprietary engine. It seems to run remarkably well across a wide spectrum of hardware, from ageing cards to the latest rigs.

While the visuals are receiving high praise, it isn't all plain sailing. Some users have pointed out technical quirks, ranging from a slightly blurry image quality to specific graphical glitches. There have also been reports of compatibility issues with GPUs from certain manufacturers. That said, most players seem to agree that it offers some of the most stunning aesthetics in the current gaming landscape.

In terms of content, the game boasts a massive scale and a high degree of freedom. Exploring a sprawling map that spans approximately 400 square kilometres to solve various puzzles has been a hit. Combat-wise, the focus is on dynamic movement and meaty impact, with unique attack styles incorporating martial arts flair. Do be warned, though—the bosses are quite challenging, and you will need to sharpen your reflexes to survive.

On the flip side, the control scheme and system design have drawn some sharp criticism. Many are finding the keyboard and mouse layout clunky, especially given the inability to remap keys freely. The complex button combinations can be a barrier to entry, and the lack of an FOV slider has left some players feeling rather fatigued. Furthermore, some suggest the narrative pacing and the initial hook feel a bit run-of-the-mill.

All things considered, the initial consensus places Crimson Desert in a unique spot, drawing comparisons to global heavyweights. The joy of exploration is being measured against the industry's best open-world giants, and the consensus is that it has successfully blended the strengths of established blockbusters into its own world-building and combat systems.