The Korean sandbox MMORPG Black Desert is about to be released in Korea.
Officially, Black Desert is still currently in an open beta, although the game has been generating substantial revenue for half a year. But soon, still in June, it is expected to transition from open beta to a “Now we are really out” state.
As the Asian MMO specialist Steparu reports, they will indeed launch with a single mega server as previously planned. To ensure constant action, the servers will be merged.
PvP gameplay with slight Pay2Win elements and stunning graphics
Steparu provides a rather critical assessment of the current state of Black Desert, which is only available in a Korean version so far. The game is highly PvP-focused, with very little to do in PvE. Additionally, the enchanting system now features “Pay2Win” elements.
Players can buy items in the cash shop, dismantle them, and obtain materials needed for upgrades. Moreover, the class balance in the game is terrible. Nevertheless, Steparu still enjoys the game, especially the guild versus guild battles, the large-scale PvP.
Black Desert will be adapted for the West
It is assumed that when Black Desert is released in Russia and Europe, the game will focus on different aspects to cater to local markets. However, there are no exact details yet. Among the fans, there is hope that the publisher Daum knows that a game designed for the Korean market (casual, PvP, Pay2Win) cannot function in the West.
Currently, the hype generated by the trailers and graphics in 2014 has noticeably faded. Many see Black Desert as a second ArcheAge – although with significantly better graphics.
For those who want to learn more about Black Desert, we recommend our preview: Preview: If ArcheAge and Tera had a child …
