Black Desert by Pearl Abyss tops China app market

South Korean game developer and publisher Pearl Abyss announced Tuesday the mobile version of its cross-platform MMORPG Black Desert has claimed first place in China’s app market immediately after its launch in the world's largest gaming market. An MMORPG refers to an online role-playing video game in which a large number of people can simultaneously play. 

Last month, media outlets expected the China release date for the game to be around April 27.

The game has been downloaded more than 36 million times globally, excluding China. But the company received a green light from Beijing last June to start distribution there. 

China’s gaming giants Tencent and iDreamSky are the local publishers and distributors. The companies have added localized features to the game originally developed in South Korea. 

There is a new character, a pilgrim, who uses a club and rides on a cloud like the Monkey King in the Chinese novel The Journey to the West. There is also a new dungeon and pets dressed in Chinese style. 

The Korean game developer appointed Chinese celebrity Qi Wei as its official ambassador for local promotions. It also conducted three technical tests and closed beta tests for quality control. 

The game has ranked top in China’s Apple App Store and Tencent’s app market. 

Analysts forecast the daily revenue from the mobile game in China to exceed three billion won ($2 million.) 

Pearl Abyss' strong comeback in China buoyed its share prices on Tuesday. Pearl Abyss finished the day’s trade at 98,000 won per share, a 6.99% jump from the day prior.

Pearl Abyss shares had continued to decline since last November, when they hit 145,200 won a share.

This was the online gaming company’s first operation in China in six years since the Chinese government imposed sweeping restrictions on the imports and use of South Korea’s entertainment products, including online games back in 2016.

The ban followed an agreement between Seoul and Washington to build and install a missile shield system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in the South to protect it against a possible North Korean attack. Beijing is concerned the THAAD radar system could be used to track the People’s Liberation Army.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com
Jee Abbey Lee edited this article.