Crimson Desert Xbox Playstation PC Gaming

[David76]

The recent trailer for Crimson Desert has provided a fascinating insight into the characters and the acting process behind them. Pearl Abyss has introduced us to the talented voice actors who bring to life key roles in this upcoming game, including Alec Newman as Kliff, Stewart Scudamore as Oongka, and Rebecca Hansen as Damiane.

In the trailer, Hansen describes Damiane as a fierce and headstrong character who stands firm in her beliefs. Interestingly, she juxtaposes this with her own conflict-avoidant nature, highlighting a personal connection to the character that adds depth to her performance. Damiane's mysterious background, hinted at through her on-the-run status, promises to weave an intriguing narrative.

Oongka, portrayed by Scudamore, presents a unique challenge as an orc-like character. Rather than a purely brutish portrayal, he emphasises a philosophical and worldly approach, communicating largely through nuanced grunts. This showcases the complexity that voice acting can bring to a character traditionally seen as simplistic.

Kliff, voiced by Newman, embodies a stoic and loyal figure with a strong moral compass. However, the character's development is teased as audiences will see him open up, particularly in interactions with his people. Newman praises the game's combat mechanics, calling them "absolutely astonishing," which, combined with the diverse playstyles, greatly enhances the gameplay experience.

The excitement builds for Crimson Desert, set to launch on May 19th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. As we await further details, the unique character portrayals and strong performances promise to enrich the game's narrative landscape.

 

[Tom]

Crimson Desert presents itself as an expansive open-world experience filled with a variety of MMO-like activities, all wrapped in stunning graphical fidelity. However, beneath this beautiful exterior lies a world that often lacks the depth, character, and charm that players might hope for.

The game is indeed vast, necessitating not one but three loading screens before players can immerse themselves in the fantasy world of Pywel. The initial loading screen manages the game's shaders, while the subsequent screens offer a surreal glimpse into a blocky realm adorned with twinkling stars. The final screen introduces Kliff, the game's protagonist, as he traverses a geometric walkway, building anticipation for entering the game world, which is later revealed to be a blend of wonder and chaos.

Once players step into Hernand, the game's first major area, they are greeted by a picturesque landscape. This idyllic realm features winding pathways bordered by wicker fences and bustling peasants engaged in various agricultural tasks, from beekeeping to fishing. The atmosphere is enchanting, with deer grazing and ducks paddling in clear rivers. Despite the lurking threat of bandits, the environment remains inviting and charming.

However, the beauty of Crimson Desert is matched by its chaotic mechanics. Players must navigate a complex array of abilities, often with confusing names. For instance, Axiom Force serves as a grappling hook, while Force Palm unleashes powerful physical attacks. These abilities are introduced in rapid succession, leaving players feeling overwhelmed during the initial hours. As the game progresses, it settles into a familiar rhythm typical of modern RPGs, oscillating between exhilarating combat and mundane fetch quests.

The narrative begins with turmoil as Kliff and his group, the Greymanes, are disbanded after a brutal encounter with the rival Black Bears. Kliff's journey to reunite with his comrades takes centre stage, but the presentation often lacks genuine character depth. The dialogue is peppered with profanity, intended to inject personality into the cast; however, the characters resemble archetypes more than fleshed-out individuals. Kliff's brooding demeanour and the rest of the crew fail to evoke authentic emotional connections, reducing them to mere avatars in an action-oriented narrative.

Combat, on the other hand, bursts with energy and excitement. Kliff's battles are a mix of melee weaponry and martial arts moves, reminiscent of fighting games. Strikes feel impactful, thanks to well-timed hit-stops, creating moments of satisfaction as enemies are dispatched with stylish finishing moves. Yet, the gameplay's mechanical complexity can be dizzying. Players can grapple, throw enemies, and even unleash rapid spinning attacks, adding to the chaotic fun.

Notably, the game encourages curiosity through its unique learning approach. Kliff learns combat moves by observing enemies, and players gather knowledge about items and characters through exploration and interaction. This design choice offers a refreshing way to engage with the game's expansive world, though it cannot fully alleviate the burden of explaining myriad systems.

As players delve deeper, the narrative becomes fragmented, and the initial allure begins to fade. While moments of whimsy and eccentricity punctuate the experience, they are often overshadowed by the game's overwhelming scale, leading to a sense of repetition. The world is filled with diverse environments that can evoke emotional responses, yet many activities lack engagement beyond the main story arcs.

Crimson Desert's ambition is undeniable, as it attempts to weave together a multitude of gameplay elements—housing, camp management, taming horses, and crafting, among others. However, this ambition often makes the game feel bloated, with tutorial screens still appearing even after hours of gameplay. The developers seem to have tailored the experience to meet the demands of an attention-driven market, with every interaction designed to keep players engaged.

Despite its technical proficiency and thrilling combat, Crimson Desert falters in character development and storytelling. While Pywel dazzles with its visual splendour, it lacks the gritty realism and distinctiveness that define truly memorable worlds. In contrast to titles like The Witcher, which evoke a visceral sense of place, Crimson Desert's offerings feel flat, akin to a banquet of bland dishes served endlessly.

While Crimson Desert boasts impressive mechanics and stunning visuals, it ultimately struggles with character depth and engaging storytelling, leaving players with a mixed experience.

 

[Black Sheep]

This seems like a marmite game. Anyone playing it?

 

[Bingo]

This is a really long game. It's definitely flawed, but I actually enjoy it more the more I progress. Puzzles are still awful, though.

 

[Bingo]

The developers at Pearl Abyss have just rolled out a massive patch, update 1.04.00, and it seems like they've really listened to the community's feedback. Let's dive into what's been added!

Spoiler: Full Patch Notes 1.04.00

• Easy / Normal / Hard difficulty options have been added to Settings > Play. For experienced Greymanes looking for more intense and thrilling combat, Hard difficulty offers a more challenging journey.
  • For those who have enjoyed many boss fights and are looking to challenge them again, the boss rematches feature allowing you to face off against the bosses of your choice will be added soon.
  • Easy
    • Reduced damage taken by the player.
    • Reduced maximum health, aggressiveness, and overall speed of opponents.
    • Extended timing windows for Parry and Dodge.
    • Reduced the frequency of bosses attempting to counterattack or escape when hit.
  • Normal
    • This is the difficulty you have been playing so far.
  • Hard
    • Food item effects won't be applied immediately and will only take effect after the consumption animation is complete.
    • Increased damage taken by the player.
    • Increased maximum health, aggressiveness, and overall speed of opponents.
    • Reduced timing window for Parry and Dodge.
    • Reduced the invincibility duration for Roll.
    • Increased the frequency of bosses attempting to counterattack or escape when hit.
    • Added additional combat patterns for certain bosses.
• Added the Sturdy Gatherables Chest which can be set up with the housing system.
  • The Sturdy Gatherables Chest has 1,000 slots and can be purchased from furniture shops.
  • Materials stored in the Sturdy Gatherables Chest can be used for crafting or refinement even if they are not carried in your inventory.
• Added the Kuku Cooler and Enhanced Kuku Cooler items which can be placed with the housing system.
  • The Kuku Cooler can be obtained through a quest, while the Enhanced Kuku Cooler can be crafted. Both can be used to store food items and ingredients.
    • Kuku Cooler: 40 slots
    • Enhanced Kuku Cooler: 330 slots.
  • Ingredients stored in either cooler can be used for cooking even if they are not carried in your inventory.
• Added the Collectibles Chest which can be placed through housing mode.
  • The Collectibles Chest can be used to store various quest items and crafting recipes.
  • The Collectibles Chest has 1,000 slots and can be obtained through a quest.
• Added an outfit storage feature to the Wardrobe, which can be placed through housing mode.
  • The Wardrobe can be purchased from furniture shops.
  • Each Wardrobe provides 100 storage slots, and the total storage capacity increases based on the number of wardrobes placed.
  • The maximum outfit storage capacity is 1,000 slots.
• Added the Select House option where you can change the layout of your house.
  • Selectable house types unlock based on the Greymane Camp expansion level.
    • Compact House
    • Standard House
    • Spacious House
    • Spacious Pailunese House
• Improved housing mode-related UI and controls.
• Added a function that allows all furniture items placed through the housing mode to be retrieved all at once.
• Improved the Greymane Camp.
  • After moving the camp to Pailune, you will receive the Private Storage item which can be placed through housing mode.
  • Added a well to Howling Hill.
• Improved the observation feature so that Abyss artifacts can be earned when observing a skill that had already been acquired by using Abyss artifacts.
• Improved the following items, which were previously unstackable, to now stack in the inventory:
  • Regular Abyss gears, insects, fish, and animals
• Added birds as pets. You can encounter these new companions throughout Pywel.
  • Added the Sotdae of Bond item which allows you to gain Trust with birds.
  • Place various types of food that birds might like on the Sotdae of Bond to feed them and gain Trust.
  • The Sotdae of Bond can be obtained through a quest.
• Added 5 new types of cat pets.
• Improved the Abyss Heuklang so that it can become your pet.
• Added a function to change the names of horses and pets.
• Fixed an issue where cats could remain on the player's shoulder indefinitely, contrary to the intended design. However, considering that many Greymanes actually liked these cats' behavior, we have added an item that allows cats to stay on the shoulder for a longer period of time.
  • Added an accessory slot for pets, which will allow pets to now take on a wider variety of roles.
    • Sigil of Bonding: Equipping this item on a pet cat ensures it to stay longer on your shoulder.
• [Damiane] Added a new exclusive one-handed weapon, the Sword of Starlight, which can be obtained through a quest.
• [Kliff/Oongka] Added two new one-handed weapons, Tree Branch and Sturdy Tree Branch.
  • These items can be obtained by cutting down trees and bamboo trees.
• Added a new tool, Sturdy Broom.
• [Kliff] Added the new Baltheon armor outfit.
• Changed the name of Rekhia Plate Helm to Baltheon Plate Helm and improved it so that it can be equipped by Kliff.
• Added a secret shop in Pororin where pet equipment can be purchased.
• Added additional outfits to certain shops, including the Back Alley Shop.
• Improved the Kuku Flame-Resistant Armor and the Kuku Ice-Resistant Armor so that they can be dyed.
• Added various ores and wells across Pywel.
• Reduced the amount of attack and defense gained from equipment reinforcement with grindstones and anvils.
• Fixed an issue where the cloudcart could not be called.
  • Improved the cloudcart so that it can be used as a permanent mount.
  • Changed the cloudcart crafting mission so that it can only be completed once.
• Improved the prices of goods sold by Greymane NPCs so that they can be bought at a 10% discounted price.
• Added livestock vendors across Pywel.
  • Livestock such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens can be purchased from these NPCs.
• Added 13 new tattoos for characters.
• Added a "Lock" function that prevents selling or discarding of the selected item.
• Improved gathering and mining so that the quantity of items obtained is applied consistently.
• Improved resting in bed so that the player's character gets up immediately afterward.
• Improved NPCs to show a wider variety of reactions to their surroundings.
• As part of ongoing visual improvements, replaced select 2D visual assets to better align with the game's art direction.

Spoiler: Controls, Combat/Action

Controls

• Added a preset feature for both keyboard/mouse and controllers.
  • The original controls are available via the "Classic Preset".
  • More detailed controller customization will be added soon.
• Added a feature where, when the interaction key is pressed, the corresponding action is performed immediately.
  • [Keyboard/Mouse] This feature, located in Settings > Input > Keyboard/Mouse Customization, can be used when the UI interaction section does not overlap with the keys in the Default Input Group. If the keys overlap, that section will be highlighted in yellow.
  • [Controller] This feature can be used through the default settings in Settings > Input > Controller Customization.
• Added the "Evasion Control" and "Switch Roll and Evasion Input" options.
  • This feature allows you to choose between either the original double click/press option or the hold option.
  • Enabling the "Switch Roll and Evasion Input" option switches the controls for Roll and Evasion.
• Improved the controls for aiming
  • Added a function that allows you to turn your lantern on and off while aiming.
  • Improved the controls so that even when a weapon is drawn, pressing aim while there is an interactable target nearby will immediately switch to aim instead of guard.
• Added the "Using Skill: Element" option.
  • Selecting "Quick Slot Option" allows you to use the selected elements assigned for each individual input.
• Changed the controls for Vault.
  • Vault can now only be used by pressing Jump while performing a different attack.
• Changed all interactions so that they are executed continuously while the button is held down.
• [Keyboard/Mouse & Controller] "Dismount/Drop" and "Cancel" keys/buttons have been combined.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Expanded the range of customizable key bindings.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Changed the Escape key used while under status effects to match the Evade key.
• [Controller] Improved the map so that it can be opened by holding the DualSense touch pad or the Xbox controller's View button.

Combat/Action

• Adjusted the overall balance of bosses.
  • Changed bosses so that they are no longer immune to player attacks while performing powerful attacks.
  • Adjusted the frequency at which bosses counterattack or escape while being hit consecutively.
  • Adjusted the attack pattern of certain bosses.
• Increased damage taken from elemental status ailments.
• Slightly reduced the damage dealt when hitting enemies with pillars or trees.
• Added new charging stages for Force Palm Pulse.
  • The skill can be charged up to 3 stages, with damage increasing progressively.
• Improved the overall speed of "Examine" when examining items.
• Improved the speed of pushing or rotating objects during puzzles.
• Improved follow-up attacks so they connect more quickly even when the initial attack is blocked.
• Changed Blinding Flash so that it can also be used in areas where weapons cannot be drawn.
• Changed Blinding Flash so that it is used toward the target currently being faced during combat.
• Improved attack chaining after using Dodge during unarmed combat.
• [Kliff] Added the skill Weapon Throw, usable while dual wielding.
  • This ability can be used with the same controls as Shield Bash.
  • Weapons can be retrieved by pressing the same controls or by approaching it.
• [Kliff] Improved the attack speed of Force Palm.
• [Kliff] Fixed an issue where the parry action after guarding would not trigger when a non-sword weapon was equipped as the primary weapon.
• [Kliff] Fixed an issue where Charge could not be used with certain weapons.
• [Kliff] Improved Force Current so that Kliff no longer falls from ledges when using it.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Added the skill Ambush.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Added a skill that has the same effect as Kliff's Focused Force Palm.
• [Oongka] Fixed an issue where Oongka could not move horizontally during Vertical Flight.
• [Oongka] Improved Oongka's blaster so that it can be fired during Flight.
• [Oongka] Fixed an issue where Scatter Shot could be used even without bullets during Back Hang.
• Improved "Examine" so that it can be used in your inventory while mounted on a horse.
• Improved the brightness and detection range of the Miner's Lantern Hat so that it can more easily identify gatherable ores.
  • It can now identify stone as well.
• Changed the healing effects displayed on targets affected by Healing Force Palm.
• Fixed an issue where the "Lift" interaction became unavailable when a restrained target fell into water.
• Fixed an issue where stamina would recover when repeatedly drawing and stowing weapons while moving.
• Fixed an issue where sprinting, swimming, and some other actions could not be performed while riding the Marni's Mechahorse.
• Fixed an issue where the character would get stuck in certain situations while operating mechanical devices.
• Improved spears and longswords so that their attacks flow more naturally during combat.
• [Damiane] Improved Quick Reload so that, in addition to being acquirable by skill observation, the skill can also be acquired with Abyss Artifacts. (Added: 2026/04/23)

Spoiler: UI Fixes, Graphics

UI Fixes & Improvements

• Improved the inventory so that items can be viewed through category tabs.
  • There are 5 categories: All, Documents, Equipment, Food, Materials, and Others.
  • The Sort settings for each inventory category are saved and will remain in effect even after restarting the game.
  • The same category tabs will also be added to the private storage in the near future.
• Improved the inventory UI so that grouped icons will show an icon with a representative image of that group.
  • The feature may be turned on or off in Settings > Play > Show Group Icon in Inventory.
• Separated the input options for "Ungroup" and "Ungroup All Items".
• Added "Filters/Search" function to the map.
• Improved the map and minimap so that icons are displayed for obtained Memory Fragments.
  • After Memory Fragments are obtained, lanterns will no longer display a detection signal.
• Added a feature that allows players to choose the shape and color of map markers.
• Improved the map to display the stock status of shop items for shops with whom maximum trust has been reached.
• Improved the map and minimap to display well icons.
• Improved the minimap to display north, south, east, west.
• [Kliff/Damiane/Oongka] Adjusted the layout of the Skills menu.
• Improved the Faction Quests and Challenges UI to show the number of quests and challenges available.
• Improved the Journal so that reward item information can be viewed.
• Added a UI display to shops that show how many of an item the player owns.
• Improved shops' buy menu to display the conditions required for purchasing deactivated items.

Graphics & Settings

• Improved the rendering quality of distant objects and textures. The higher the graphics settings, the more enhanced the details and visual clarity will be.
  • Fixed an additional issue where background objects that should only appear under certain conditions were always visible from a distance.
• Improved the visual quality of characters at long distances.
• Improved hair lighting in shaded areas.
• Improved errors and flickering related to displacement mapping.
• Added a "Max" size for the subtitle font size setting.
• Improved to maintain the camera's distance to the character when adjusting the visual range.
• Added a "Colorblind Mode" option in Settings > Accessibility.
• Added a "Chromatic Aberration" option in Settings > Accessibility.
• Added a "Photosensitive Mode" option in Settings > Accessibility.
• [PC] Improved the quality of "AMD FSR Ray Regeneration".
• [PC] Improved the quality of "Intel XeSS 3.0" upscaling and "Intel XeSS Frame Generation".
• [Steam] Fixed an issue where actions requiring rotation of the right stick, such as Nature's Snare and reeling in a fishing rod, did not function properly with an Xbox controller when the "Enable Steam Input" was enabled.
• [Mac] Reduced stuttering during gameplay.
• [Mac] Added a "MetalFX Denoising Upscaler" option in Settings > Video. This option is available starting from macOS Tahoe.
• [Mac] Fixed an issue where switching between multiple displays under Settings > Video did not work smoothly.
• [Mac] Fixed an issue where the game would launch at an unintended resolution when using certain displays.
• [Mac] Improved HDR quality and allowed HDR to be enabled by default "For This Mac" preset when using an HDR-compatible display.
• [Mac] Fixed an issue where the screen appeared excessively dark when disabling HDR after it had been enabled.

Spoiler: Miscellaneous fixes and improvements

Stability, Gameplay

• Changed the Load menu to display a notice in a slot if the save data is corrupted or invalid.
• Fixed an issue that caused the game to crash if HDR was enabled on a monitor that does not support HDR.
• Fixed several stability and crash issues across PC, console, and Mac.

Localization

• Fixed various localization errors and improved localization quality across all languages.

Others

• Tumbleweeds have been added to desert regions.
• Fixed an issue where the "Display Weapons" setting was not applied properly in certain cutscenes and gameplay situations.
• Fixed an issue where the target location would display incorrectly when a bounty target quest failed.
• Fixed the bounty system so that if the player's bounty is too high to turn in a bounty target, bringing the target to the Constabulary will trigger an arrest state instead of the handover cutscene.
• Improved comrades' behavior so they do not attack bounty targets.
• Fixed an issue where, after completing certain quests, tracking of the subsequent quest did not trigger properly.
• Improved the Journal to indicate whether a quest target has been dispatched on a mission.
• Improved the progress display for cumulative quests such as "To the Rescue".
• Fixed an issue where the game would occasionally close when retrying bosses as Damiane or Oongka.
• Fixed an issue where the character switch menu became available after completing a stage that automatically switched the player character.
• Fixed an issue where teleporting via the map while mounted on Blackstar caused Blackstar to become invincible or unable to move.
• Fixed an issue where Blackstar would not move when summoned from a distance.
• Fixed an issue where an item was displayed incorrectly when reading a Memory Fragment with the lantern.
• Fixed an issue in the Prologue where enemies would not recognize the player after the player rested in a bed.
• Fixed an issue that caused an inifite loading screen to appear if the player was caught cheating at Duo as Oongka.
• Fixed an issue where NPCs were unable pick up items they had dropped after colliding with the player.
• Fixed an issue where some outfits looked unnatural depending on the player's movements.
• Improved the display of the horse cargo so it no longer overlaps with shields.
• Fixed an issue where audio did not play properly in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where a certain Pailune merchant NPC would not appear in some save files.
• Fixed an issue where the mission would fail if a bounty target was killed after being captured.
• Fixed an issue where Trust would not increase after giving a gift to the boss of the Beggars' Alliance.
• Fixed an issue where the effects of the items Golden Beer and Sage's Eye did not apply properly.
• Fixed an issue where relevant Knowledge was not acquired after interacting with the Pailune Militiamen.
• Fixed an issue where the knowledge for Tristan, the Flame Knight, Marni's Machina Knight, and Dreadnought could not be acquired.
• Fixed an issue where Greater Abyss Gear could not be sold.
• Fixed enhancement materials, crafting materials, and reinforcement levels that had been set differently from the equipment material type.
• Fixed various other in-game issues.

New Difficulty Settings
First off, players can now choose from various difficulty settings. This means you can tailor your gameplay experience to match your skill level or how much of a challenge you fancy. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just starting out, there's something here for everyone.

Storage Improvements
We all know how vital inventory management can be in games, and Crimson Desert has made some much-needed adjustments in this department. Storage improvements are here, making it easier to organise your items. Plus, there are new category tabs for your inventory that will definitely help you find what you need without the hassle.

New Pets and Customisation Options
On a lighter note, the patch introduces some delightful new pets—birds! Yes, you can now have these lovely feathered creatures accompany you on your journey. Who wouldn't want a cute bird friend while exploring the vast world of Crimson Desert? There are also new preset options for both keyboard/mouse and controller, making it easier to choose how you want to play.

Skill Enhancements
The update also brings improvements to skills, ensuring that your character feels more powerful and responsive than ever before.

In summary, this update seems to be a game-changer, addressing many player concerns while adding a bit of fun with new pets. It's always great to see developers actively enhancing a game based on community input.

 

[David76]

Pearl Abyss has just rolled out Title Update 1.04.01, and they've packed it full of bug fixes that many of us have been eagerly awaiting.

Let's break down what this latest update has to offer.

Patch 1.04.01 is primarily a hotfix, designed to address various issues that players experienced after the previous major update. While it might not introduce a ton of new features, it focuses on stabilising the gameplay experience, which is something we can all appreciate.

The updates are part of an ongoing effort to enhance our gaming experience, ensuring that the game runs smoothly and efficiently. If you've been encountering frustrating bugs, this patch aims to tackle those problems head-on.

For those who are curious about the specifics, the patch notes detail numerous improvements and fixes, though they have yet to reveal any major content changes. This is a good reminder of how developers are continually working behind the scenes to refine our beloved games.

Spoiler: Patch 1.04.01 Release Notes

• [Controller] Changed the button used to change the names of pets and horses from (R3/RS) to (L3/LS).
• Fixed an issue where certain owned mounts were not appearing in the Quick Slot, preventing them from being summoned.
• [PlayStation/Xbox] Changed the "Change Preset" option to be displayed the same way as on PC.
• Fixed an issue where pets would eat wood or ore gathered with a logging axe or pickaxe.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Fixed an issue where furniture could not be placed while using housing mode in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where crashes could occur while dyeing or changing customisation.
• Fixed an issue where stamina would recover when sheathing and unsheathing certain weapons while sprinting.
• [Damiane] Fixed an issue where Blinding Flash was cancelled in safe zones.
• [Kliff] Fixed an issue where the flight speed of Focused Aerial Roll became slower than intended.
• [Oongka/Damiane] Fixed an issue where ranged weapons could not target anything other than bosses during boss battles.
• Fixed an issue where hit effects were displayed when attacking NPCs that could not be attacked while wearing a Mask.
• Fixed an issue where the game would crash during combat with a certain boss when using a customised character.

Spoiler: Patch 1.04.01 Release Notes

• Improved the game so that changes to the Minimum Font Size settings are applied immediately.
• Fixed an issue where starting a new game while a separate save file existed applied a game difficulty setting apart from the one actually selected.
• Fixed an issue where parts of the fishing dock vendors' and tanner's shop UI were displayed awkwardly.
• Fixed an issue where changing a Pet's name would change the name of a non-Pet animal in the trust increase notifications.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Fixed an issue where key inputs would not work while adjusting Others > Video > HDR.
• Fixed an issue where, when the Extra Rewards List and Content Guide UIs overlapped, the Content UI in the back would be interacted with first.
• Fixed an issue where the fadeout in some shop cutscenes occurred too slowly.
• Fixed an issue where horse gear could not be dyed.
• Fixed various localisation errors across all languages.
• Increased character movement speed slightly. (This change was applied in Patch Version 1.04.00)
• [PlayStation 5 Pro] Fixed an issue where screen brightness would become unstable when "PSSR Sharpness" was enabled.
• Added a Greymane Contribution Shop with Carl at the Greymane Camp. (This change was applied in Patch Version 1.04.00.)
• When expanding the camp, furniture placed in the house will no longer be retrieved. (This change was applied in Patch Version 1.04.00)
• However, if the house layout is changed through housing mode, all placed furniture will be retrieved.
• Improved the Greymane Camp.

 

[David76]

It looks like a significant patch is on the horizon, set to release in just a few days! While we're still waiting on the full patch notes, Pearl Abyss has teased a couple of features that players have been eagerly anticipating.

One of the most talked-about additions is the introduction of new special mounts. For those of you who love exploring the vast landscapes of Crimson Desert, this could really enhance your travel experience! But that's not all - there's also going to be an extraction feature. This will let you recover materials used in your equipment, which has been a much-requested feature from the community.



This extraction feature is particularly interesting because it opens up more possibilities for gear optimisation. As many players know, maximising your gear can take a lot of time and resources, so having the ability to reclaim materials will definitely lighten the load. It could also lead to more experimentation with gear setups, as players can feel more comfortable trying out new builds without the fear of wasting precious resources.

It's great to see that Pearl Abyss is listening to player feedback and making changes that can really make a difference in gameplay.

 

[Tom]

Pearl Abyss recently released its financial results, and it turns out the game has been quite a hit for them. It's amazing to see how well it's doing!

What's particularly exciting is that Pearl Abyss is planning to expand the game with downloadable content (DLC). This means we can look forward to new adventures, characters, and possibly even new regions to explore. The developers seem eager to take the game to the next level, which is something we can all appreciate.

• Crimson Desert has sold exceptionally well, boosting Pearl Abyss's finances.
• Plans are in motion to introduce DLC, enhancing the game's world and gameplay.
• The developers aim to broaden the experience for players, making it even more engaging.

With the game's impressive sales figures and the promise of more content, it feels like we're just scratching the surface of what Crimson Desert can offer.

This seems like a marmite game. Anyone playing it?

It's everything, all at once. This works for and against it. It's not as refined as, say, Horizon or RDR2, but it still looks amazing. And it does so much more than any game I've played before. I'm nearing 40 hours in and have only explored about 30% of the map, if even. Constantly something new to find or explore.

It won't be for everyone, and it's a slow game, as in there's no rush. But I can honestly say I love it. I'm not even close to bored with it. I've seen clips and pictures of things I've yet to encounter. I want to move on, but constantly distracted by literal shiny things. It's massive but filled with stuff to do.

It does take a while to get used to everything that's happening, but with the most recent update, it's a lot more fun to move around.

Easily a GOTY contender.

 

[Black Sheep]

Title Update 1.08.00 has just dropped, and it's a hefty 6.3GB download. So, what's new in this update?

One of the standout features of this update is the introduction of a lovely little pond, which is sure to add some charm to the game world. On top of that, we also get a cute Baby Wyvern as a new pet! Who doesn't love a baby dragon companion, right?

But that's not all – the patch also improves the overall experience with several bug fixes and visual enhancements. It's always nice to see developers working tirelessly to polish the game and make it even better for players.

Patch 1.08.00 also comes with some control tweaks and fixes. For instance, it improves the input system so that all inputs can have a secondary key assigned to them. It also improves shortcut customisation so that shortcuts for Inventory, Map, Skills, Journal, Photo Mode, and Menu can be freely assigned. Furthermore, it improves camera movement when aiming while riding Blackstar.

And that's not all. Update 1.08.00 adds new Ray Tracing effects to the game. To be more precise, it adds Raytraced Sun/Moon Light Shadows in Settings. It also partially improves GPU load in high-resolution environments that exceed 4K resolution. Moreover, it fixes an issue where distant vegetation would occasionally flicker, as well as the flickering issue that happened on the displaced surface boundary.

Spoiler: CRIMSON DESERT PATCH NOTES 1.08.00

New Additions

• Added a slot to equip tools.
  
  • Certain equipment that was previously equipped in the secondary weapon slot can now be equipped in the tool slot.
  • Equippable tools: logging axe, mallet, shovel, broom, scythe, pickaxe, drill/chainsaw, fan
  • The tool slot can be found in the quickslot menu, below the secondary weapon slot.
    
    • Quickslots for masks and circlets have been moved to the 'armor' tab of the quickslot menu.
  • Using "Quick Swap" switches to the equipment in the slot that was previously drawn.
• Added a Pond to "Howling Hill" and "Pailune Camp".
  
  • Complete the pond construction mission to build it at "Howling Hill" and "Pailune Camp".
  • You can directly release fish from your inventory into the pond, or add them through the pond management mode.
  • Having multiple fish of the same species will gradually increase the number of that species, at a rate that varies by species.
  • Use "Zoom In/Out" while in pond management mode to observe the registered fish.
  • Fish may die if the number of the registered fish exceeds the pond's capacity.
    
    • However, legendary fish will always remain in the pond regardless of the number of fish or their lifespan, and only one can be registered.
    • Legendary fish can no longer be sold, used, or discarded. Additionally, previously sold, used, or discarded legendary fish have been restored to the player's inventory.
• Added 20 species of small animals and a "Baby Wyvern" that can be registered as pets.
  
  • "Baby Wyverns" will be able to grow and be registered as mounts in a future update, so stay tuned.
• Wild Wyverns can now be temporarily used as mounts after being subdued.
• [Kliff] Kliff can now use muskets and shotguns.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Added a skill equivalent to the "Focused Aerial Roll".
• Added a function that allows you to silence tied-up outlaws.
• Added blueprints that allow you to craft superior branches using special tree branches and branches at refinement level 10.

Main Improvements

Content

• Added a function to instantly refine equipment using a selected refinement method without having to select materials.
• Added "Mass Craft Paintings" and "Craft Fine Paintings" missions.
• Added timber and stones as rewards to logging and quarry missions.
• Adjusted the size of items inside claw machine capsules so prizes can be viewed more clearly.
• Changed tree branches obtained from logging trees to rough tree branches, which can be used and stacked.
• Improved the "Infinite Arrows" Abyss gear to function for bullets and cannonballs.
• Cats can now be taken in even when carried.
• Improved chairs placed during house decoration so that characters can sit on them more naturally.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Hovering the mouse over different options at the Barber now allows you to preview each style.
• Re-Blockade will now happen at bandit camps and ruins.
• Improved the puzzle experience at the "Disconnected Truth" Abyss.
• Griddle-cooked and pan-fried dishes have been seperated into fish, meat, and vegetable variants.
• Improved fish traps so that fish can now be caught with them.
• Improved the quality of certain outfits.
• As part of ongoing improvements, certain 2D visual assets have been replaced to better align with the game's art direction.
• [Kliff] Improved the appearance of certain helms.
• Improved the silhouette of the Belkandor Plate Armor so it appears more natural with various cloaks.

Controls

• [Keyboard/Mouse] Added a keyboard shortcut (P) that opens and closes the photo mode menu.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Improved the input system so that all inputs can have a secondary key assigned to them.
• Improved shortcut customization so that shortcuts for Inventory, Map, Skills, Journal, Photo Mode, and Menu can be freely assigned.
• Improved photo mode so that the Invert Camera X-axis and Y-axis options from Settings are also applied.
• Improved camera movement when aiming while riding Blackstar.
• Changed the "pet" interaction with pets so that it is only available when aiming at them.
• Improved the "pet" interaction with pets and horses so that it is canceled when using an evasion skill.
• Improved "Blinding Flash" so that it can be used while riding Blackstar.
• Improved the camera so that it faces forward after loading screens that appear when escaping from the Abyss, resting, or assembling.
• Improved Blackstar's controls and camera perspective.

Combat / Action

• [Damiane] Improved the additional strike effects of two-handed cannons.
• [Damiane] Improved chain attacks following an unarmed "Dodge".

UI

• Improved the map to allow separate markers to be placed depending on the current location.
  
  • Markers placed on land will only appear on land.
  • Markers placed in the Abyss will only appear in the Abyss.
• Added a tracking marker for the map that appears on the minimap at all times.
• Added a function to filter by weapon in Skills > Search.
• Improved the UI so that completed knowledge entries and quests can be viewed more easily.
• Improved the inventory so that items that cannot be sold are more clearly indicated when sorting by price.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Improved the inventory so that items can be examined and discarded by right-clicking them.

Graphics & Settings

• [PC] Added Raytraced Sun/Moon Light Shadows in Settings > Graphics. (Edited: 2026/05/22)
• Partially improved GPU load in high-resolution environments that exceed 4K resolution.
• Improved object placement so that placement indicators now appear when placing objects on water surfaces.
• Fixed an issue where the FPS value did not display correctly when NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation or Intel XeSS Frame Generation was activated.
• Fixed an issue where distant vegetation would occasionally flicker.
• Fixed an issue where the lighting would appear smudged when the lighting quality was set to medium or lower, or when raytracing was turned off.
• Fixed the flickering issue that happened on displaced surface boundary.
• Fixed an issue where iridescent fog would appear on the ground in certain situations.
• Fixed the smearing issue that occurred around glass materials.
• [Mac] Metal4 is now active by default in devices with macOS version 26.5 or higher.
• [Intel] Fixed an issue where the screen would not display correctly when "Intel XeSS 3.0" or "Intel XeSS Frame Generation" is enabled on Intel Arc A-series products.

Localization

• Fixed various localization errors and improved localization quality across all languages.

Others

---

• Fixed an issue where the game or rematches would load abnormally slowly when playing as Oongka or Damiane in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where wagons could not be switched at the wagonmaster.
• Fixed an issue where the actual recovery effects of certain food items differed from their descriptions.
• Fixed an issue where mercury did not crystallize when using Turning Slash imbued with the ice element.
• Fixed an issue where doors would not open after resetting certain missions, preventing progression.
• Fixed an issue where objects would not react to the lantern when it was shone at certain angles.
• The name of "One-Eyed Jackals" has been changed to "Lonely Jackals".
• Fixed an issue where the effect of Blackstar's Breath would linger on the ground for an extended period.
• Fixed an issue where the last livestock could not be sold to the Rancher.
• Fixed an issue where comrades would not follow the character when boarding a wagon.
• Fixed an issue where special mounts could be sold.
• Fixed an issue where knowledge entries for items could still be acquired from certain shops even after leaving the shop.
• Fixed an issue where the knowledge for "Crescent Lake" could not be obtained.
• Fixed an issue where certain animals appeared abnormally.
• Fixed an issue where Meerkats appeared abnormally.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Fixed an issue where Damiane and Oongka could not mount the same type of horse as Kliff.
• [Damiane] Fixed an issue where the sheathed position of certain rapiers appeared unnatural.
• [Damiane] Fixed an issue where completion requirements for the "Shield of Unchanging Will VI" challenge did not account for Damiane's shield charge.
• Fixed an issue where acquiring certain items were considered as crimes in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where the lantern would remain stuck to the player's hand when using Blinding Flash while unarmed.
• Fixed an issue where the "Bow Aimed at Fate II" challenge could not be completed when using replenishing arrows.
• Fixed an issue where the claw of the claw machine moved unstably in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where the player could not interact with a Platypus.
• Fixed an issue where the transporter at the Aeronautical Research Base would not function.
• Fixed an issue where duringthe "Moving Rocks" quest, the player was guided to an incorrect location.
• Fixed an issue where certain NPCs would respawn on dead mounts.
• Fixed an issue where items at the furniture shop were displayed facing backward.
• Fixed an issue where the item refresh period shown in the Royal Trading Guide differed from the actual time period.
• [Damiane] Fixed an issue where using "Piercing Light" with a greatsword equipped would cause the camera perspective to move in an unintended direction.
• [Damiane] Fixed an issue where "Aerial Grapple" would not execute properly in certain situations.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Fixed an issue where loading the game after selecting an element would reset the selected element.
• Fixed an issue where the player could not aim at enemies after shining the lantern or using Axiom Force while clinging to a wall.
• Fixed an issue where certain movements would repeat abnormally when holding the sprint input with a bow drawn in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where "Roundhouse Kick: Proficiency" could not be executed consecutively when unarmed.
• Fixed an issue where, if the player died outside the combat area during a boss fight and revived using a Palmar Pill or Refined Palmar Pill, the player character could not be controlled in certain situations.
• Fixed an issue where wearing certain helmets would interrupt the casting animation for "Elemental Force Palm".
• Improved pets so that they remain summoned after completing certain quests, including boss fights.
• Fixed an issue where proper effects were not being applied to the "Charge" skill when equipped with a one-handed sword.
• Fixed an issue where using the "Quick Swap" skill with a two-handed sword with no spirit left would consume stamina instead.
• [Keyboard/Mouse] Fixed an issue where "Stab" did not smoothly chain into "Restrain".
• Fixed an issue where input guides on the bottom right corner of the screen would appear as keyboard/mouse inputs when using a controller.
• [Damiane/Oongka] Fixed an issue where the "Mark Target" input guide would not appear while using "Focused Evasive Shot".
• Fixed an issue where comparison tooltips would not apepar at saddleries.
• Fixed an issue where certain missions could not be examined in the notifications UI.
• Fixed an issue where, after examining a mission in the notifications UI, that mission would not be selected.
• Fixed an issue where "Release" was activated even for mounts that could not be released.
• Fixed an issue where the inputs appearing on the claw machine guide differed from the actual inputs.
• Fixed an issue where certain items such as "Horse Tonic" and "Horse Stimulant" would not appear in the Provisions - Elixir list.
• Fixed an issue where furniture icon would not display for certain furniture.
• Fixed an issue where the UI would freeze when customizing the presets for keyboard/mouse in certain situations.
• Increased the trust gained by feeding mercury to the Iron Eagle from 5 to 15.
• Improved the description of the Abyss gear "Energy Drain."
• Increased the number of items sold at the Contribution Shop. Additionally, they will now be restocked daily.
• Improved the shop system so that supply contracts are restocked.
• Fixed an issue where four crafting manuals did not appear in the shop.
• Fixed an issue where unpackaged trade goods could be sold at the Rancher's Shop.
• Fixed an issue where the fusion recipes for Abyss gears "Shatter", "Rend", and "Shred" were displayed in the wrong place.
• Fixed the incorrect quest item name for the quest "A Wife's Show of Heart".
• Fixed an issue where the fan appeared unnatural when throwing it.
• Fixed an issue where physical collision was excessive when tossing a shield.

 

[Black Sheep]

Crimson Desert's developer, Pearl Abyss, has some exciting updates in store for players this summer! The team has announced a series of significant changes aimed at enhancing the game, particularly its story, which has been a point of contention among fans.

From June to September, players can expect a variety of content updates, including story refinements, new combat challenges, cross-save support, and various quality-of-life improvements. One of the highlights is the introduction of new combat content designed specifically for seasoned players, giving them a chance to showcase their skills as a Greymane. More details on this will be shared soon.

Additionally, the Re-Blockade feature is set for a rework, which aims to create a more seamless experience before and after a blockade. This change will also introduce new strategies for defending strongholds against invasions, along with improved rewards for liberating these areas. This adjustment comes in response to feedback from endgame players who felt there was a lack of enemies to engage with after clearing them out.

However, the most noteworthy changes are those related to character development and storytelling. Many players have voiced their concerns regarding the game's narrative, particularly the main character, Kliff, who has been described as lacking depth. His stoic responses, especially his infamous one-word replies, have even become a meme within the community.

Critics have pointed out that while Crimson Desert excels in its open world and combat mechanics, the story and character development leave much to be desired. Reviews have highlighted the aimless narrative and forgettable characters, with dialogue that often misses the mark. For instance, the main questline includes a character whose death occurs off-screen before the story begins, leading to several funeral scenes that feel disconnected and unengaging.

Despite these criticisms, the game does feature some impressive cutscenes filled with dynamic, anime-style fights, which suggests that Pearl Abyss has the potential to create compelling storytelling moments.

As the developer works on these improvements, it will be interesting to see how they address the narrative shortcomings and whether they can make Kliff and the overall story more engaging for players.