In case you have somehow missed in over the last few weeks of mentioning it, Black Desert is holding its summer community spectacle this weekend, and it’s doing so in a literal castle in a picturesque village in France – specifically, Beynac-et-Cazenac, the village and chateau on which Black Desert’s own Heidel is based.
As we noted yesterday, gamers who lack a transportation device to get them to France can always just log into the game and join the watch party with the devs. But if you aren’t able to log in, you might prefer to watch the stream of the main event as it happens, and you can in fact do that, as the keynote hits Twitch and YouTube at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, June 22nd.
“Pearl Abyss, the acclaimed game developer and publisher behind Black Desert, is thrilled to announce an extraordinary in-person Heidel Ball event set to take place in the picturesque village of Beynac-et-Cazenac, France. Scheduled for Saturday, June 22, this event promises to transport attendees into a world of medieval charm and immersive experiences inspired by the beloved game. Nestled atop the scenic Dordogne River, Beynac-et-Cazenac served as a significant inspiration for Pearl Abyss during the creation of its game, specifically the in-game city of Heidel. Adventurers attending the Heidel Ball will feel as though they are stepping directly into the game as they wander through the village’s historic streets and alleys.”
Another point of note: Pearl Abyss isn’t just hosting an event in Beynac-et-Cazenac; it’s also announced that it has “donated significant funds to the Castle of Beynac” meant to “aid in the restoration and maintenance” of the French landmark.
While we couldn’t all go to the event – it’s a tiny village, after all – MOP’s MJ, with Ducky in tow, is in attendance courtesy of Pearl Abyss and will be reporting back from the chateau! And apparently, she won’t be alone, as the studio says 100+ invitees are attending from 15 countries and 20+ media outlets. Our corner of the genre doesn’t get a whole lot of events like this – have fun, Ducky!
I'm pretty excited for #BlackDesertOnline's Heidel Ball! Tonight we gather before heading to the RL Heidel tomorrow. Expect many pictures! @MassivelyOP
(Not-so-)fun fact: The walk to this hotel "at" the airport was a trek almost equal to the one to Mount Doom! pic.twitter.com/C42v2mMue3
— MJ Guthrie (@MJ_Guthrie) June 20, 2024
