Hiding the PS5 Version of Crimson Desert? Studio Responds and PlayStation Provides Hands-On of 4 Hours

The upcoming release of Crimson Desert, scheduled for March 19th, has generated both excitement and skepticism. Concerns about console performance have arisen due to the absence of native console gameplay footage and PC-only review codes provided to the press. Amid social media comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077's troubled console launch, Will Powers, Pearl Abyss Public Relations and Marketing Director, addressed accusations that the producer was withholding console versions to conceal performance issues. "We're not hiding anything, and I'm sick of having to repeat myself," Powers stated on X (formerly Twitter). "I've repeated hundreds of times that we'll reveal things before launch to give people adequate time to preorder the game." He concluded by asking fans for patience: "We're saying this openly... Let us cook Please and thank you."

Meanwhile, Sony published an in-depth preview on its official blog based on four hours of Crimson Desert gameplay on a PS5. Eschewing promotional language, the article details the mechanisms that bring the world of Pywel to life. Players take on the role of Kliff, a warrior in the Greymanes faction, and exploration is tied to liberating zones. For example, after freeing a market from bandits, residents return, allowing Kliff to observe fishermen and learn to fish. Combat in Crimson Desert features no class system; instead, fighting style depends on the equipped weapon—swords, spears, or axes. Kliff learns new abilities during battles, such as mimicking an enemy boss's kick. Exploration relies on a vigor (stamina) system that limits how long players can climb, swim, or run. Players can also summon a horse and use magical powers from Abism artifacts, enabling flight or manipulating large objects to solve physical puzzles. The PlayStation blog's hands-on preview indicates the console version will offer 4K resolutions and higher frame rates, along with ray tracing for enhanced lighting effects. The DualSense controller's haptic feedback is also said to make every fight feel realistic on the PlayStation 5 version.

PlayStation also confirmed exclusive technical optimizations for the PlayStation ecosystem. On the base PS5, the game utilizes the SSD for continuous world streaming and employs rendering techniques like Geometry Shader Oversubscription and NGG Culling to display distant elements without detail loss. The PlayStation 5 Pro will natively support PSSR for achieving 4K resolution with high frame rates, as well as ray tracing for realistic illumination. It will also utilize High CPU Frequency mode for performance stability during swift world traversal. These rendering techniques help manage polygon counts and maintain detail at a large scale. The DualSense controller will leverage haptic feedback to simulate impact weights and adaptive triggers for bow tension. The game will use PSSR 2 to enhance AI and improve upscaling, along with a High CPU Frequency Mode to reduce processor load when exploring the continent of Pywel. The recent PSSR upgrade for the PS5 Pro enables Crimson Desert to run at 4K resolutions with higher frame rates, while the console's ray-tracing capabilities enhance the game's lighting effects.

Upcoming PS5 Pro Version of Crimson Desert Promises Enhanced Gameplay Experience vs. PC

Crimson Desert is set to deliver a world larger than Red Dead Redemption 2, and a recent hands-on preview is fueling excitement for smooth performance on the PS5 Pro. These details will likely remain insufficient to silence critics until more outlets experience the PS5 Pro version. If the game falters on PS5 or Xbox Series X, upgrading to the flagship PlayStation hardware could become more appealing, similar to how Resident Evil boosted system sales. The updated PSSR has also led some to believe that the PS5 Pro can compete with more expensive gaming PCs. Despite the emerging details about how the PS5 Pro's specs will improve the game, Pearl Abyss has yet to release console gameplay footage. Adam Corsetti recently published a review of Crimson Desert on Notebookcheck.net. The question remains: Will you play on PC or consoles?

In Case You Missed It

If you're eager for a sneak peek into upcoming gaming worlds, you're in luck! Start by joining Bruno Pferd on Players for Life as he explores the immersive open-world adventure of Crimson Desert. In his latest critique published on March 4th, Bruno dives deep into all three characters and even takes to the skies with the mech, offering a unique preview that's not to be missed Crimson Desert: We Tested All Three Characters, Dragon and Mech, Final Preview Before Testing. While you're there, don't forget to check out Bruno's insightful article on Crimson Desert's graphical optimizations and PS5 Pro support. Published on the same day, this piece delves into advanced technologies like SSD streaming and ray tracing, promising a breathtaking open-world experience for PlayStation gamers Ready to Play Crimson Desert on PS5? Discover Graphical Optimizations and PS5 Pro Support. But that's not all! Speaking of upcoming gaming news, mark your calendars for Thursday as Jonathan Dubinski prepares to reveal Bandai Namco's latest RPG. With rumors swirling about an animated-style game featuring a character wielding a medieval shield, speculation is running high that this could be the next installment in the beloved Tales Of series. Don't miss out on this exciting announcement – head over to Jonathan's post on March 3rd and get ready for a thrilling reveal Bandai Namco Promises to Reveal "A New RPG" on Thursday!