'Crimson Desert' Fires the Signal Flare for a Turnaround

Time is short, and there is so much to know. INVEN has launched a new corner to help you keep track of Steam news at a glance. From weekly new releases to updates, sales, and events, INVEN hand-picks the most important information for you. Please note that this column will be published every two weeks.

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  • New Releases: Death Stranding 2, Life is Strange: Reunion
  • Updates: Crimson Desert
  • Sales: Borderlands 4, Red Dead Redemption 2, Death Stranding, Solo Leveling: ARISE Overdrive

STEAM NEWS

What happened in the world of gaming this past week?

● XBOX|PC New Releases Incoming! XBOX Partner Preview

For gamers, there is no better news than a new release—whether it is a game you have been waiting for or something you have never heard of before. Perhaps aware of this, XBOX delivered a flood of announcements during the XBOX Partner Preview on the 27th.

First, the title that caught the most attention is the new game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio 'Stranger of Heaven'Since its initial reveal at The Game Awards 2024, it has generated buzz for its much grittier and more violent presentation compared to previous series entries. This preview further heightened expectations by showcasing a story structure spanning five eras and five cities, along with its combat system.

Also not to be missed is 'Alien: Deathstorm'which was unveiled for the first time during this preview. It is a first-person survival action game that captures the intense tension characteristic of the Alien series. Interestingly, the Xenomorph—the icon of the Alien franchise—does not appear, which only makes it more intriguing.

'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2'S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 titled 'Coast of Hope'has finally been unveiled. It involves exploring two areas: the long-isolated Iron Forest and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. As the second piece of a trilogy consisting of the base game and two expansions, expectations for its quality are high.

Finally, the new game from Korean developer IGGYMOB 'Musa: Dirty Fate'was also revealed for the first time. It is a third-person action game set in 17th-century Joseon, and it is already drawing attention as a title that could satisfy gamers thirsty for an action game that authentically captures Korean history.

For those concerned about console exclusivity due to the XBOX Partner Preview branding, rest assured: all the games introduced are scheduled for release on PC (Steam). If any catch your eye, feel free to add them to your wishlist.

TRENDING

What were the hottest Steam titles this week?

The top spot on this week's Steam trending list goes, unexpectedly, to 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Reboot)'The Steam Spring Sale played a decisive role in bringing a three-year-old game back to the trending list; thanks to a 90% discount, its concurrent player count surged by 4,000%.

'Life is Strange= Double Exposure'Life is Strange= Reunion' is also red-hot. As the latest and final installment that concludes the series, perhaps one sentence is enough: it is the game that marks the grand finale of an 11-year journey. If you enjoyed the previous titles, this is a must-play.

Modern Warfare (Reboot) 'Modern Warfare Reboot'The Last Spell. 'The Last Spell'Resident Evil 3.

'Resident Evil 3' seems to have also played a role in reigniting interest in the series as a whole 'Resident Evil Requiem'(Note: Context implies a recent series release).

HOT DEAL

So, should you buy it? Or skip it?

'Borderlands 4'is currently offering a 30% special discount to celebrate the release of its new story pack 'Mad Ellie and the Cursed Vault' The Borderlands series, considered the pioneer of the looter shooter genre, has always stood out for its unique character designs, world-building, and a story that feels like it was written under the influence. Although 'Borderlands 4'received somewhat mixed reviews, its distinct flavor is hard to find elsewhere. If you have been interested but hesitant, now is a great time to jump in.

※ Go to Borderlands 4

- Go to Borderlands 4 Steam Store

- Go to Borderlands 4 INVEN GAMES Store

- Go to Borderlands 4 Metacritic

When reading reviews of games that are considered not just excellent, but masterpieces, you often see comments like, 'I'd pay to have my memory wiped so I could experience this for the first time again.' Among the countless games out there 'Red Dead Redemption 2'is perhaps the most deserving of that sentiment. With a story as deep as a feature film, masterful direction, and unforgettable characters 'Red Dead Redemption 2'is truly a flawless game.

※ Go to Red Dead Redemption 2

- Go to Red Dead Redemption 2 Steam Store

- Go to Red Dead Redemption 2 Metacritic

Death Stranding 2 'Death Stranding 2'Death Stranding 'Death Stranding' if you plan to play, 'Death Stranding 2'we highly recommend playing the original 'Death Stranding'first.

※ Go to Death Stranding

- Go to Death Stranding Steam Store

- Go to Death Stranding INVEN GAMES Store

- Go to Death Stranding Metacritic

Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive 'Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive'(Solo Leveling: ARISE Overdrive details).

※ Go to Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive

- Go to Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive Steam Store

- Go to Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive INVEN GAMES Store

- Go to Solo Leveling= ARISE Overdrive Metacritic

UPDATED

A completely different experience—please forget the past

If there is one game that successfully turned its reputation around through recent updates, it is undoubtedly Pearl Abyss' 'Crimson Desert'It is a game that remains a hot topic not just in Korea, but globally.

At launch, the atmosphere surrounding 'Crimson Desert'was, to put it mildly, poor. Despite being a rare, high-budget single-player package game from a Korean developer, it was criticized for its convoluted control scheme, clunky feel, disjointed story, overwhelming and counterproductive content, and UI/UX issues. Consequently, it had a disappointing start with a Metacritic score of 78.

The reaction on Steam was not much different. Immediately after launch, Steam reviews were stuck at 'Mixed.' However, since the 1.00.03 patch on the 23rd, the sentiment has shifted to 'Mostly Positive,' showing clear signs of improvement. Many aspects, including the most complained-about controls and the addition of a storage system, have been refined. Gamers' evaluations are gradually changing in response to Pearl Abyss' swift actions. As of the 7th day since launch, the rating has even begun to shift to 'Very Positive' in several language regions.

However, since it remains 'Mixed' in the Korea-China-Japan region, there is still work to be done. It remains to be seen whether 'Crimson Desert'which started with mixed reviews, can achieve a successful turnaround to 'Very Positive.'

※ Go to Crimson Desert

- Go to Crimson Desert Steam Store

- Go to Crimson Desert Metacritic

Discovery of the Week

Looking for a new game? We recommend these

'Death Stranding'the official sequel 'Death Stranding 2'has finally landed on Steam, about nine months after its timed-exclusive release on PS5 in June 2025.

Living up to the expectations of gamers who have waited a long time, 'Death Stranding 2'is satisfying in many ways. As expected from a series already praised for its story, this entry is excellent, and having shown great optimization and performance on PS5, it delivers even better results on PC. With the addition of ultra-wide resolution support and unlocked frame rates, many gamers who owned a PS5 still chose to wait for the PC version. 'Death Stranding 2'has rewarded that patience almost perfectly.

Steam reviews are full of praise, with a 95% recommendation rate and 'Overwhelmingly Positive' status. Considering that the predecessor 'Death Stranding'was a polarizing game in terms of story and gameplay, this is an achievement beyond expectations.

A younger sibling that outshines the elder 'Death Stranding 2'has accomplished the most difficult task for a sequel. If you enjoyed the first game, this is a must-play; even if you only enjoyed it moderately, this entry will surely provide even more fun.

※ Go to Death Stranding 2

- Go to Death Stranding 2 Steam Store

- Go to Death Stranding 2 INVEN GAMES Store

- Go to Death Stranding 2 Metacritic

Including the spin-offs 'Before the Storm', and 'Captain Spirit'a total of six titles have been released in the 'Life is Strange' series. The latest and 7th title 'Life is Strange= Reunion'was finally officially released today (the 27th).

'Life is Strange= Reunion'is the title that marks the grand finale of the 'Life is Strange' series, which began with the release of the first game in 2015. It is not just a simple sequel; it is characterized by the fact that many elements—from the world-building and story to the characters—have been continuously carried over from the first game.

The story deals with the aftermath of Max merging two timelines in the previous game 'Double Exposure'exploring what happens after the timeline where Chloe is alive and the one where she is dead are merged. Also, unlike previous entries, you can play as both Max and Chloe, offering a fresh gameplay experience and fun.

Of course, the high-quality story cannot be overlooked. Above all, as the finale to an epic spanning 11 years, expectations from series fans were high even before release. Finally released 'Life is Strange= Reunion'has proven that those expectations were well-founded.

Currently on Steam, it holds a 90% recommendation rate and 'Very Positive' reviews. As the game that closes the curtain on an 11-year story, it is a masterpiece that existing series fans should absolutely not miss.

※ Go to Life is Strange= Reunion

- Go to Life is Strange= Reunion Steam Store

This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of NC AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. [Read Original]

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