[E-Daily Reporter An Yu-ri ] On the 7th, PearlAbyss Corp.(263750)held an unusual special shareholder meeting amid a recent sharp drop in its stock price and backlash from minority shareholders, taking direct steps to reassure them. The company outlined a strategy to expand revenue during the gap period leading up to the release of *Dokkaebi* in the second half of 2028 through *Red Desert* DLC (downloadable content) and its platform.

CEO Heo Jin-young held the shareholder meeting that day at PearlAbyss Corp.’s headquarters in Gwacheon and said, “Management takes very seriously the disappointment, anxiety, and frustration that shareholders are feeling regarding the company due to recent stock price trends.” CFO Cho Mi-young and COO Lee Dong-won were also present at the meeting.

The meeting venue, which seated about 50 people, was so crowded that there were not enough seats. It drew significant attention from shareholders, as evidenced by a red banner hung at the back of the venue by the Small Shareholders’ Alliance. The meeting, which began at 3:00 p.m., consisted of a presentation by the company, a video, and a question-and-answer session, lasting approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

PearlAbyss Corp. announced plans to participate in Gamescom alongside the development of DLC content to expand the Red Desert IP. PearlAbyss Corp. is scheduled to participate in “Gamescom 2026,” the world’s largest gaming expo, held in Cologne, Germany, from August 26 to 30, in collaboration with SamsungElectronics.

As previously announced, the release of the new title “Dokkaebi” has been set for the second half of 2028. CEO Heo stated, “We are considering DLC as paid content so that players who have enjoyed the main game can experience additional fun,” adding, “We will provide clear details on the specific release plans within the third quarter.”

Optimization for Nintendo Switch 2 Underway… Focus on Black Space UGC

Regarding Red Desert’s expansion to new platforms, he explained, “We are preparing to launch on new platforms with larger user bases, and we are currently conducting technical verification and optimization for the Nintendo Switch 2.” Specific plans for the Nintendo Switch 2 platform are expected to be announced in the third quarter.

The company maintained a cautious stance regarding entry into the Chinese market. CEO Heo replied, “We are continuing to review local services, regulations, and partnerships, but as of now, we do not consider a launch via a publishing license to be a meaningful opportunity,” adding, “We will continue to evaluate possibilities in specific regions, including China.”

He remained tight-lipped about “Plan 8,” the new title set to succeed “Dokkaebi.” “I believe the concept and direction may change, and we are currently in the stage of developing a concept suited for the current generation,” he said. “Once ‘Dokkaebi’ development reaches a certain level, key personnel will shift to ‘Plan 8’ to flesh out the details.”

He revealed that the Blackspace Engine will prioritize UGC (User-Generated Content) over B2B (business-to-business) sales. CEO Heo explained, “Selling the engine externally requires technical support, documentation, and customer service staff, which raises concerns about diverting game development resources,” adding, “It benefits the company when creators use the engine to make competitive games.”

He continued, “We intend to grow by continuously developing our intellectual property (IP) based on our accumulated technology—not merely as a simple engine, but as a tool that can foster an ecosystem where creators can thrive.”

While he left the door open to M&A (mergers and acquisitions), he drew a clear line, stating, “There are no transactions currently under discussion.” CEO Heo said, “If an opportunity arises that contributes to the company’s growth, we will review it with an open mind.”

The meeting lasted about three hours, during which candid discussions took place with shareholders. Amid PearlAbyss Corp.’s announcement of a 100 billion won share buyback plan by year-end, some shareholders voiced criticism that the company’s daily, incremental purchases were ineffective due to short selling.

CFO Cho said, “Since short selling and securities lending take place within the framework of capital market regulations, there is virtually no area where the company can intervene directly,” adding, “However, we are continuously monitoring market data and internally reviewing trading trends and changes in supply and demand.”

"We’ll keep a close eye on the GTA 6 release in the second half of the year… and will focus on the playability of our next title."

During the briefing, the issue of controls—which drew significant criticism during the early days of *Red Desert*’s release—was also raised. The company emphasized that this was not intentional and pledged not to repeat the same issues with controls in its next title.

COO Lee Dong-won said, “We didn’t insist on a particular control scheme out of sheer stubbornness,” adding, “In the months leading up to launch, our focus was on optimization and bug fixes—we spent a lot of time deliberating internally and allocated significant resources to those areas.” He continued, “Looking back, we realized we should have devoted more resources to the controls.”

He also mentioned *GTA 6*, the most anticipated title in the global gaming industry. CEO Heo said, “Fortunately, *Red Desert* is coming out before *GTA 6*, which I consider a huge relief. However, since market expectations are high and there are factors that could shift the market afterward, we are keeping a close eye on the situation.”

He continued, “With the release of GTA 6, there will likely be a lull in new game releases,” adding, “Internally, we are rigorously evaluating whether we can leverage that lull to boost sales of Red Desert, which has already launched, and are formulating a strategy accordingly.”