[Report] Secret Behind "Crimson Desert" High-Quality Visuals?...Inside Pearl Abyss's Game Development Base "Home One"

Action, Sound, and Objects, All Datafied in the Proprietary Engine
"Development Capabilities First, Technology-Driven Investment to Continue"

#. As two actors, their bodies covered in sensors, swung prop swords and synchronized their choreography, the game characters on the monitor moved exactly like them, adding a sense of realism. The movements of the actors, captured and converted into data by more than 120 motion-capture cameras, are linked in real time with Pearl Abyss's proprietary game engine and immediately reflected in the characters. The 16?megapixel cameras captured not only the actors' joints but even the subtle movements of each finger segment.

On the 24th, actors are filming action scenes for 'Red Desert' at the motion-capture studio inside the Pearl Abyss headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Noh Kyungjo

On the afternoon of the 24th, we visited "Home One," Pearl Abyss's headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, where new titles such as "Crimson Desert" and "DokeV" are currently in development. Completed in 2022 with the ambition of becoming one of the world's top-tier game development bases, the facility houses a "motion capture studio" for delivering in-game action and experiences, an "audio room" equipped with a Foley sound studio and dubbing room, and a "3D scan studio," among other spaces.

The motion capture studio is the foundation of the realism Pearl Abyss pursues. The ceiling height was designed to be high so that aerial and wire action can be performed without difficulty. Shock-absorbing sponge has been laid on the floor to ensure the actors' safety. Even just for swords, there are more than 40 different types of props available. Their length and weight differ, which means there are subtle differences in how each one is handled.

Choi Giyeon, head of the Direction & Action Team, said, "This is a space where up to 10 people can film at the same time, and no matter how simple a movement is, we sometimes shoot it multiple times if necessary," adding, "We are producing the action in a way that brings out the unique characteristics of each weapon through the actors' interactions, so that gamers can feel a strong sense of realism."

In the 3D scan studio, people, armor, and other objects are converted into data quickly and accurately, so that their in-game appearance closely resembles reality. The facial scan booth and full-body scan booth are equipped with 144 and 272 cameras, respectively, which operate simultaneously. Costumes such as armor are put on mannequins, while props like rocks are shot as real objects, and not only their shapes but also their textures and scratches are captured as data.

Pearl Abyss explained that this environment has allowed it to dramatically improve game graphics quality. It shortens developers' repetitive tasks and enables them to focus more on creative work. Kim Jae-eun, head of the Background Design Office, said, "We try to preserve the form of digital assets more through combination than through transformation," adding, "This is also one of the secrets behind the visual completeness of 'Crimson Desert,' a triple?A (blockbuster?level) game."

Facial scan booth inside the 3D scan studio at Pearl Abyss headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Noh Kyungjo

In the audio room, composers, voice actors, and others gather to breathe life into the game world and its characters. The Foley studio, in particular, which is also used in commercial film production, stood out. They create the sound of a mechanical dragon's wings and battle noises by rubbing a hose against metal, and they produce footsteps directly on floors made of various materials such as sand and gravel. These data are linked to the proprietary engine and automatically generate appropriate sounds according to the physical values.

Pearl Abyss demonstrated how the sound of rustling bushes changes depending on wind strength. Audio Director Ryu Huiman explained, "Rather than focusing on sophistication, we thought hard about how to best express the action through sound," adding, "Even if it is somewhat rough, we wanted to present a sound that is uniquely Pearl Abyss."

Pearl Abyss expects that "Crimson Desert," developed in this kind of environment, will deliver the best possible gaming experience. After seven years of development, "Crimson Desert" is scheduled for a simultaneous global release on console and PC platforms on the 20th of next month. A Pearl Abyss representative said, "'Home One' is a symbolic space that proves Pearl Abyss is a 'technology?driven company' with competitiveness in the global market," adding, "We are making investments that support our corporate philosophy of putting development capabilities as the top priority."