I hovered over the buy button as the release date flashed on my calendar. The price felt negotiable, the bonuses felt random, and I realized I had a choice to make right now. You’ve been there—watching a preorder sale and wondering which storefront actually gives you value.
I follow Pearl Abyss and big RPG launches closely, and this one has traction: Crimson Desert arrives March 19, and the buzz isn’t only about its combat or open worlds — it’s about how you can save money and score extra games at purchase.
Pre-orders are already live across storefronts — Fanatical currently slices 15% off the Steam-priced editions
You can pre-order Crimson Desert for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, macOS and PC. If you prefer Epic Games Store, pre-ordering there nets a Kliff skin in Fortnite as an extra perk.
If you want a Steam key but would like to pay less, Fanatical’s current deal drops the Standard edition from $69.99 (€64) to $59.49 (€55), and the Digital Deluxe edition from $79.99 (€74) to $67.99 (€63). That means the Deluxe edition is available for less on Fanatical than its listed Steam price — a rare win if you were aiming for extra content without the full MSRP.
Is Crimson Desert available on Steam?
Yes. Fanatical sells Steam keys for Crimson Desert, so when you check out there you receive a Steam key for the edition you bought. That’s convenient if you prefer Valve’s client and community features over the Epic launcher.
Retail checkout is noisy — at Fanatical you’ll also get two randomized coupon gifts with the purchase
Most stores give pre-order bonuses; Fanatical adds two randomized coupon gifts during checkout. You’ll see a Crimson Desert Free Gift Coupon and a Steam Spring Sale Postcard Coupon appear in your cart — open them after purchase to reveal a free game chosen from a pool of titles.
The randomness is part gamble, part pleasant surprise: sometimes you score a solid indie or a sleeper hit, and other times it’s a small filler title. This feels like finding a vein of gold in a thrift shop.
What do the free coupons actually give you?
They grant additional Steam keys chosen from Fanatical’s promotion pool. You complete the purchase, receive your Crimson Desert Steam key, and then get the extra keys for the coupon prizes — all delivered via the usual Fanatical order page and email.
Gamers compare storefronts constantly — weigh platform perks against price and bonuses
If you want the Fortnite Kliff skin, Epic is the route. If you want a Steam key plus a price cut and the chance at two bonus games, Fanatical is the practical pick. Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert Online, is the developer here, and many players who follow their work care about post-launch content and long-term support.
The randomized free-game mechanic is like a shortcut through fog — sometimes it shows you the path, sometimes it’s just decorative; either way, it can increase perceived value without breaking your budget.
So which will you choose: the convenience and extras on Epic or console stores, or the discounted Steam key plus two gamble-gifts on Fanatical — and which outcome would make you feel like you won or lost the preorder game?