Steam has made the popular MMOBlack Desert Onlinefree to keep for a limited time only. In some parts of the world,Black Desert Onlineis already a free-to-play game, however English-language versions of the game are all usually buy-to-play.
Black Desert Online wasfirst released in 2014, and developer Pearl Abyss has done a great job at keeping the community alive. Too often MMOs come to the table with big dreams, but never make it beyond a few years, andBlack Desert Onlineis one of the few that has managed to not only survive, but thrive. Despite middling reviews upon release, Pearl Abyss has continued to support the game, withBlack Desert Onlinestill boasting hundreds of thousands of active players daily.Black Desert Online’s PS4 and Xbox One releasein 2019 has also helped expand the game to a new audience, with backward compatibility on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S ensuring players will still be able to play well into the current generation, too.
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The free-to-keep drop came with no official announcement, instead simply dropping to $0 on Steam until March 9. The game usually retails at $9.99, and unlike many MMOs, doesn’t require a monthly subscription to play. As part of the promotion,Black Desert Online’s DLC packs can also be found with a massive 70% off, so it’s the perfect opportunity for players to immersive themselves in Pearl Abyss' huge MMO.Black Desert Onlinehas been available for free in the past through Prime Gaming, although this offer expired quite some time ago now.
Although the game remains active, this move should see a big influx of new players toBlack Desert Online. Without paying for the game, players may be more enticed to spend money inBlack Desert Online’s Pearl Shop, which gives players the chance to remove some of the grind from the game. A lot of MMOs have a similar feature, however not paying an entry or subscription fee might make it easier for players to swallow here.
It’s hard to know the long-term future ofBlack Desert Online, even if it seems active at the moment. Thedevelopment ofCrimson Deserthas taken much of the development resources at Pearl Abyss, though news about the title has been limited for a long time. But even ifCrimson Desertis a huge success for the company, it’s still difficult to imagine Pearl Abyss dropping support forBlack Desert Onlineas long as it retains a solid player base. Only time will tell, withCrimson Desertcurrently rumored for a late-2023 release.
Black Desert Onlineis available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
