Love it or hate it, this ambitious open world is one that insists that you meet it on its own terms. And that's part of its charm.
Crimson Desert has crafted a world that feels worth being part of, but is that enough to overlook some of its flaws?
Available now for PC, it also adds shortcuts for menus on the mouse and keyboard alongside more Abyss Nexuses for fast travel.
![Crimson Desert is Now Playable on Intel Arc GPUs, But Optimization is “Still Ongoing” [Update]](https://gamingbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Crimson-Desert_06-300x169.jpg)
"We are preparing to provide a smooth and stable gameplay experience, and we ask for your patience until the update becomes available."
The studio apologized for these "oversights" and is "conducting a comprehensive audit" with updates coming in future patches.
Quickly level up all of your skills and gear with this guide to farming Abyss Artifacts fast in Crimson Desert.
Learn how to upgrade your weapons and armor with socketable items in this guide for the Abyss Gears in Crimson Desert.
Will Powers of Pearl Abyss agrees on the complexity of the controls and how it "takes time to learn, but it comes naturally after you do."
Access the most devastating land-based mount in Crimson Desert with this guide to unlocking the ATAG mech.
Take to the skies with the most powerful mount in Crimson Desert using this guide for unlocking the dragon.
Success in Pywel can feel fleeting at times. Here are some tips to get you started and surviving past the initial few hours.
Despite share prices dropping and lower-than-expected review scores, the open-world title is seemingly a hit for the studio.
PC launch numbers on Steam aren't the worst of Pearl Abyss's open-world title, but the response isn't exactly mind-blowing either.
According to Alinea Analytics' Rhys Elliot, around 2.2 million of the 3 million wishlists celebrated by the studio came from Steam users.
Shareholders seemed to have anticipated Crimson Desert getting more positive, while the game's Metacritic score sits at 78.
Crimson Desert's world feels alive and isn't afraid to show it, but does that make it the best in such a crowded genre?
It's not perfect, and there are plenty of quirks to work through, but this open-world action-adventure is enjoyable overall.
Despite base PS5 and PS5 Pro gameplay, Xbox Series X/S is unlikely to receive similar showcases from Pearl Abyss before March 19th.
Can a single purchase for the upcoming open worlder dispel the old adage “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is?”
From Kliff’s quest to rebuild the Greymanes, to the looming threat of the Abyss, let’s take a look at Crimson Desert’s characters, factions, and mysteries.
