I’m not sure why you think Pearl Abyss gets such a pass compared to EA or Ubisoft. 99% of people out there don’t know who Pearl Abyss is, considering that its only claim to fame is Black Desert.
The truth is that this game does a lot of things that 99% of the games out there don’t, so people are very willing to forgive some rough edges. It isn’t “coping.” It’s appreciating a game that does something original with a lot of personality in an industry that often lacks both factors.
Funnily, at this point, a low score from the likes of IGN is more a mark of honor than anything else. 😂


