Crimson Desert’s PS5 and Xbox Gameplay Remains a Mystery

Crimson Desert is set to launch this week, generating a lot of excitement in the gaming community. With reviews now available, players can get a glimpse of what to expect from this title. However, it’s important to note that most of the reviews currently focus on the Windows PC version, leaving the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions somewhat in the shadows.

Early access to Crimson Desert was granted for the Steam version back in early March, but the console versions were not made available for review until the official launch. This is somewhat unusual for major game releases. While it’s common for console versions to arrive later than their PC counterparts due to stricter certification processes from Microsoft and Sony, typically, reviewers get to experience all platforms before the game goes live.

This situation has drawn comparisons to the 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077, where only the PC version was available for review prior to release. Initial reviews were positive, but the console versions turned out to be riddled with issues, leading to Sony removing the game from the PlayStation Store and offering refunds. CD Projekt Red later acknowledged that their approach to the console release was flawed, although the game’s reputation has improved over time.

That said, the circumstances surrounding Crimson Desert differ from those of Cyberpunk 2077. Recently, Digital Foundry tested the game on the PS5 Pro and reported a favorable experience. They found that frame rates were mostly stable across all three game modes—one focused on visual quality, another on frame rates, and a balanced option—though performance dipped with many enemies on screen. The visual fidelity impressed them as well, highlighting details like the way tides interact with shorelines and how smoke casts shadows.

Digital Foundry did not test the base PS5 model, but PlayStation Japan released a 20-minute video showcasing Crimson Desert running on that version. For those not deeply invested in graphical nuances, the differences may seem minimal. The footage from PlayStation Japan shows that the game performs well on the base model, but without hands-on experience, it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions, especially since the video comes from a source affiliated with the platform.

When asked why console codes were not provided for review ahead of launch, representatives from Pearl Abyss pointed to the PlayStation Japan video.

As of now, Crimson Desert holds a score of 79 on the review aggregator Metacritic, with all 51 reviews listed being from the PC version. Initial impressions from gameplay suggest some concerns with controls, narrative, and the open-world design, but the action has received praise. Players can expect to dive deeper into the game across all platforms in the days and weeks ahead.

Crimson Desert officially releases on March 19 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, although it will be available a day later in certain regions.