Review: Crimson Desert Gets New Update for Improved Controls and Inventory

Less than a week after its launch, Crimson Desert has received four updates from developer Pearl Abyss, addressing the most urgent issues reported by players. The latest of these, version 1.00.03, focuses on control improvements and includes several other fixes and enhancements. Players can verify the update by checking the patch number (1.00.03) on the start screen. Title Update 1.00.03 introduces hotkeys for Inventory, Map, Skills, and Journal. The update also includes the following changes and gameplay adjustments: Improved responsiveness for character movement with keyboard and mouse. Default settings for Guard/Aim (Side Button 1) and Evade (Side Button 2) for keyboard and mouse users. Fixed input issues that arose after customizing Shortcuts and Input Settings. A toggle for 120Hz mode in the Settings menu for PlayStation 5 and Xbox. Fixes for unrecognized graphics cards on older Windows 10 versions. Enhanced stability, performance optimization, and crash fixes across PC and console platforms. A fix for occasional crashes caused by the Map menu on PlayStation 5. Offline gameplay availability on Xbox. Corrections to localization errors and overall improvements to localization quality in all languages.

Visual improvements, including fixes for NPC animations and screen quality issues with FSR Ray Regeneration or DLSS Ray Reconstruction. Ensured that resolution and upscaling settings are saved when the game restarts. Increased health recovery from food and items. Addition of a private storage at Howling Hill. Tweaks to gamepad and keyboard/mouse controls. Automatic display of ore veins and collectibles when nearby. Adjusted difficulty for Marksmanship and Archery Contest minigames. Petrification triggered by proximity to bismuth ore. Pickaxe mining enabled for bismuth ore, eliminating the need for Lightning damage attacks. Reduced difficulty of ambush encounters while heading towards the Reed Devil boss stage. Display of boss weakness effects, even without specific knowledge. Resolution of an issue where comrades would not leave during a boss fight. Price reduction for restorative items sold by Carl at Howling Hill Camp (from 10 Silver to 1 Silver). Improved animal behavior. Fixes for abnormal NPC behavior and positions. Resolution of NPC cheating in the Duo minigame. Automatic quick slot assignment for newly acquired food items. Improved positioning of the Homing Pigeon letter UI.

Enhanced camera movement during skill observation. Fixes for destination removal issues on the Map menu. Resolution of cursor display issues in the Shop menu. Relocation of the Knowledge and Notifications menu from "Others" to "Journal," along with order adjustments. Pearl Abyss followed version 1.00.03 with hotfix 1.00.04 on PS5, focusing on keyboard and mouse controls, jump command response speed, and interface improvements. The update also introduces a private stash for storing player inventory items. In a statement on the official site, Pearl Abyss wrote, "As mentioned in a previous communication, we have been closely following your experiences through issue reports, videos, live streams, and community discussions. Your feedback has been invaluable to us, and we thank you for the time and attention you’ve dedicated to sharing it with us. We are reviewing various gameplay elements based on your feedback and will implement additional improvements and fixes in future updates. We remain committed to enhancing Crimson Desert and its experience in Pywel. Thank you once again for your continued support."

Divided Opinions and Upcoming Improvements in Crimson Desert's Continuing Evolution

As with reviewers—whose differing opinions have resulted in a Metacritic score of 78—player reactions to Crimson Desert have been divided. Some adore the game, while others have found significant flaws. Those who are less impressed may want to wait for Pearl Abyss to address the game's most prominent issues. Given the pace of updates in its first week, Crimson Desert will likely receive many more improvements throughout the year.

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