Key Takeaways
1. Crimson Desert is generating excitement and strong pre-orders, potentially ranking second in sales behind GTA 6 in 2026.
2. Analysts predict GTA 6 could sell 25 million copies in the first 24 hours and generate nearly $8 billion in two months, despite a November release.
3. Performance concerns exist for Crimson Desert, especially on less powerful consoles, while some PC gamers are unhappy with the addition of Denuvo.
4. Competing titles like Marvel’s Wolverine and Pokémon Pokopia are expected to challenge for sales, with Wolverine being a PS5 exclusive.
5. The gaming industry is eager to see if Pearl Abyss can surpass Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem, which achieved over 5 million sales in five days.
As the March 19th release date for Crimson Desert approaches, excitement is growing among fans, leading to some ambitious sales forecasts. Paul Tassi from Forbes predicts that this open-world game will only be second to GTA 6 in terms of sales in 2026. The game from Pearl Abyss is expected to gain from being available on multiple platforms from day one.
Predictions for GTA 6
Even though GTA 6 isn’t set to launch until November, analysts largely agree that it will overshadow its rivals. The venture capital firm Konvoy estimates that Rockstar Games might sell 25 million copies within the first 24 hours. In just two months, it could potentially bring in nearly $8 billion in revenue. Importantly, it will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but there is no confirmed date for its PC release.
Potential Delays
If there happens to be another hold up for the crime saga, it might change the outlook for the top seller in 2026. Nevertheless, Paul Tassi believes that the Pearl Abyss game will lead the charts before the holiday season kicks in. Pre-orders for Crimson Desert are looking strong, as it stands third in Steam’s top sellers list. It’s currently the only unreleased game in the top 40.
Performance Insights
Encouraging previews for Crimson Desert have surfaced, even though some worries about performance remain. Digital Foundry revealed that the PS5 Pro version met expectations, but its high demands could challenge less powerful consoles. Additionally, many PC gamers are expressing dissatisfaction over the unexpected addition of Denuvo. Nevertheless, this anti-piracy measure hasn’t caused it to fall significantly on Valve’s most-wanted list.
The gaming industry is keen to see if Pearl Abyss can outshine Capcom and Resident Evil Requiem. The survival horror title achieved over 5 million cross-platform sales in just five days. However, with the vast scale of Pywel, the open-world competitor hopes to keep gamers engaged for a longer time.
Competing Titles
Tassi has pointed out other potential competitors that might vie for the second spot in sales behind GTA 6. Set to release in September, Marvel’s Wolverine already has a significant built-in fanbase supporting Insomniac Games. However, with Sony reportedly stepping back from single-player PC releases, it will likely stay a PS5 exclusive.
Nintendo is facing similar hurdles with its first-party Switch 2 titles. After just four days, Pokémon Pokopia managed to sell over 2.2 million units, surprising some analysts. Still, due to exclusivity on the platform, a new 3D Mario game may be necessary for achieving more remarkable sales figures in 2026.
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