Steam or Not to Steam?

[Randi Rabbit]

I'm a returning player, I've had a bash on Steam earlier this year, enjoyed it, had a break, then bought it on PS4 recently, big mistake, it runs like diarrhoea (thick, lumpy, laggy, low FPS Diarrhoea) compared to PC version which I wanna come back to.

The reason I wanna ask about a Steam version or not is because when I was on console, I bought pearls directly from Pearl Abyss, but if I remember right, on Steam you had to buy Kakao coins or something... I can't remember exactly but isn't it more expensive buying Kakao coins for pearls? Or were they cheaper in the US store? I am struggling to remember correctly but I remember seeing a discussion that if you play non-steam or EU/US there's some combination that you get more Pearls for less Cash...

Anyone help me on this before I commit and return?

[Daggoth]

Both Steam and Website versions have the Cash->Kakao Funbux->Pearl nonsense. https://www.blackdesertonline.com/shop/cash
It's half to abstract the cost by hiding it behind another currency, and half to provide a buffer currency to adjust things to encourage higher expenditure. EG: 1000 funbux can get 1000 pearls, but 3000 funbux gets 3000+200 BONUS!!! (not bonus) pearls.

Most people will suggest getting the client straight from their website, as their version occasionally has special deals that aren't available to Steam players. EG: If you have the website version, you can get a Hedgehog pet (massively useful for gathering) by gifting the game to a friend (or yourself) for $10 - whereas Steam player can't get the Hedgehog unless they drop 4400 pearls (at a min cost of $50USD for 3000+2000 pearls) in the store for a 'welcome pack'.
Also on the odd occasion there's steam-specific game bugs.