Korean MMORPG Black Desert developed by Pearl Abyss is free to download on Steam until April 13. This sandbox-oriented game features a realistic high fantasy setting including in-depth character creation and details such as horse taming, as well as better-than-average combat known for its grindiness. Black Desert is normally $10 USD on Steam but this markdown is promotional event in celebration of the game’s Eternal Winter expansion.
Players can download The Traveler Edition which includes the Eternal Winter expansion. This is the biggest expansion to date, which brings Black Desert’s newest region- Mountain of Eternal Winter. This expansion comes with a long list of new content and features such as ice-fishing. As the name suggests, the region is characterized by perpetual snowfall and harsh blizzards which cover its peaks. This extreme weather will inflict a health-draining debuff, Frostbite that can be cured by sipping Citron Tea and Well-brewed Mesima Tea. Exploring the rugged terrain ripe with collectible crafting minerals will give way to small camps and the central village of Eilton. The expansion also includes the Drakania class, which is similar to a Dragon Slayer where it wields a long sword and armor forged from the scales of dragons. This class can be utilized to take down new boss battles.
Black Desert has been in development since 2010 and was released to the west in 2016. In only a year it accrued 3.4 million registered players in North America and Europe. By September 2020, the game reached 40 million players and grossed $1.7 billion worldwide. One of its biggest selling points is the extreme detail to character creation, which is a staple feature of any Korean-made MMO. Its average score is 73/100 according to Metacritic ratings for PC. An IGN review claimed that it is “one of the most unique fantasy-themed MMOs” that “deliver many dozens of hours of fun” despite its shortcomings like “grindy combat” and a “weak endgame”. While Black Desert is already free in Korea and a couple of other countries, this promotion may draw even more players to what is considered one of the most popular MMORPGs to this date. Black Desert is free on Steam right now for a limited time but can also be played on PS4/PS5, Xbox One and Series X|S and mobile.