13 December 2025

Steam Users Have Until December 18 to Claim Free Open-World MMORPG

By newsgame

Developer Pearl Abyss has announced a new promotion for Black Desert, letting Steam users claim and keep the game forever if they do so before December 18. While the studio has been heavily focused on its upcoming title, Crimson Desert, it has continued to support its popular MMORPG, Black Desert, and now appears to be aiming to bring new players to its servers with a limited-time free-to-keep offer.

The name Black Desert may not be unfamiliar to anyone who regularly keeps an eye on Steam’s free-to-keep offers. It has appeared in these promotions several times since its 2017 launch and will likely continue to do so in the future. Even so, these giveaways create a great opportunity for PC users looking to try a new MMORPG at no cost.

Black Desert: 7 Things You Need To Do In Your First 10 Hours

Black Desert can certainly seem like an intimidating game, but there are a few ways beginners can make the game much easier in their first few hours.

Steam Users Can Claim Black Desert for Free Right Now

Until December 18, PC users can claim Black Desert on Steam and keep it forever. The game is normally priced at around $10 USD, with DLCs that start from $30 and can go up to $80. Black Desert is one of the most well-known MMORPGs for PvP, praised for its combo-based combat, expansive organic environments, and large-scale battles. Modes like Red Battlefield and Node War pit dozens of players and guilds against each other, creating massive arenas that few other games in the genre can match.

Black Desert appears to be region-blocked on Steam, meaning the current offer may not be available in certain areas where the game cannot be played.

PvP is not the primary focus of Black Desert‘s gameplay. The game also offers plenty of PvE for players who want to grind and progress at their own pace, along with a wide range of Life Skills such as fishing and farming that add a strong sandbox feel. Helping keep the servers active are the regular events organized by Pearl Abyss. On December 11, for example, the developer introduced a series of Christmas-themed events, including activities such as hunting for hidden gift boxes across the map.

Microtransactions Play a Key Role in Black Desert

Like many other open-world MMORPGs, Black Desert keeps the entry barrier low, making it easy for players to jump into its servers. That said, progression can be demanding, and there are plenty of premium items designed to smooth out the grind. This has led some to label Black Desert as pay-to-win, though that largely depends on how someone chooses to play. If PvP is not a major focus and the goal is mainly PvE, many parts of the game are fairly F2P-friendly, with plenty of ways to progress and level up without spending real money.

Black Desert’s Servers Are Crowded

While the average player count has dipped over the past six months, Black Desert still maintains around 15,000 to 20,000 concurrent Steam players each day. That is an impressive figure for a game released in 2017 and highlights how well Pearl Abyss has maintained its core player base over the years. It is also good news for fans of MMORPGs that feature large-scale wars, as it suggests the servers are consistently active and full of guilds to join.

Black Desert might not be every MMO fan’s cup of coffee. Still, adding it to a Steam library for free comes with little downside. The current promotion offers the perfect chance for players who have been curious about the game to finally try it and decide whether it is worth their time. With no mandatory payments like monthly subscriptions, skipping the usual $10 purchase price effectively turns Black Desert into a free-to-play MMO, making it an offer worth acting on before December 18.