Press release

Pearl Abyss Hosts Unforgettable Heidel Ball in Beynac-de-Cazenac

Annual Event Held at Inspirational Castle Strikes Resonant Chord With Black Desert Community

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – July 2, 2024 – Pearl Abyss, the developer and publisher behind the award-winning MMORPG Black Desert, has announced the success of its in-person Heidel Ball event in honour of Black Desert’s 10-year anniversary. Held on Saturday, June 22 in the picturesque village of Beynac-de-Cazenac, France, the event transported more than 200 lucky attendees into a world of mediaeval charm and immersive experiences.

 
  • Watch the Heidel Ball Europe 2024 highlights video here 
 
Nestled atop the scenic Dordogne River, Beynac-de-Cazenac served as the original inspiration for the in-game city of Heidel. Attending Adventurers experienced the magic of stepping directly into the game as they wandered through the village's historical streets and alleys, brought to life with the game's mediaeval setting.

Scattered throughout the town were minigames and activities inspired by in-game content, and AR (augmented reality) installations of in-game characters, mounts, and structures. Fans interacted with and captured selfies alongside the Heidel fountain, the mythical Doom horse, the blacksmith, and more, adding to the immersive experience. These features made Beynac-et-Cazenac truly feel like the city of Heidel.


The community events segued into a keynote presentation by Jaehee Kim, the Executive Producer of Black Desert, held at the historic Beynac Castle. The keynote revealed exciting upcoming updates, including the Land of the Morning Light: Seoul expansion, a new playable class “Dosa”, dedicated PvP season servers, new territory updates, and insight into the game’s future developmental direction. The detailed announcements kept the audience engaged and eager for the future of Black Desert. The event also was live-streamed on YouTube and Twitch where it reached more than 300K accumulated views!


“Our goal with the Heidel Ball was to bring the Black Desert community together in a setting that truly captures the spirit of the game,” said Lybee Park, CEO of Pearl Abyss Europe. “Beynac-de-Cazenac provided the perfect backdrop for this celebration. We are thrilled to see our Adventurers engaging with the game’s world in such a tangible and meaningful way. This event not only celebrates our past achievements but also sets the stage for exciting future developments.”


A standout highlight of the event was a mini-concert led by Pearl Abyss’ Audio Producer Jiyoon Kim, renowned for composing and arranging many of Black Desert's iconic music pieces together with Audio Director Hwiman Ryu. Performed by the Matrisse orchestra, the concert featured the most beloved Black Desert themes.


The festivities culminated in a grand mediaeval banquet, where attendees savoured Black Desert-inspired dishes. The feast was a true spectacle, offering not only culinary delights but also a chance to win prizes, including AMD graphic cards and a limited edition Heidel Ball gaming laptop made available by Alienware and Intel.


For more information, please check the Black Desert website and stay up to date with the latest info on Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube.

ABOUT BLACK DESERT IP
The Black Desert IP is Pearl Abyss' open-world action MMORPG franchise with cutting-edge visuals and skill-based combat that redefines the genre. With the most developed character customization system of any game currently on the market, players can break out of the norm and make unique characters that truly represent themselves. Its intuitive controls, beautifully designed world, and extensive lore will excite both newcomers and veterans of MMO games and action RPGs. Pearl Abyss is currently servicing the Black Desert IP, which has gained 55 million players across the world on PC, mobile, and console.   

ABOUT PEARL ABYSS
Established in 2010, Pearl Abyss is a leading developer in the game industry with its renowned MMORPG franchise Black Desert, which is available on PC, mobile, and console. All of Pearl Abyss’ games are built on the company’s proprietary engine and are renowned for cutting-edge graphics. Pearl Abyss is currently developing Crimson Desert, DokeV, and PLAN 8 using its next-generation game engine and is poised to grow its overseas market. More information about Pearl Abyss is available at: www.pearlabyss.com.