Crimson Desert May Arrive on Switch 2, But Some Features Might Be Sacrificed

It seems that Crimson Desert is on its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, though it might take some time. Heo Jin-young, the CEO of Pearl Abyss, mentioned in a recent shareholders meeting that the highly anticipated open-world RPG is currently in the research and development phase for a port to the handheld console, but it will involve some significant compromises.

The game generated a massive amount of excitement leading up to its March 19 release, primarily due to its stunning visuals. Utilizing a proprietary engine called BlackSpace instead of Unreal, it impressed tech enthusiasts with its graphical fidelity in demos, although it sparked some debate by not showcasing its performance on Xbox and PlayStation. When it was finally revealed on PS5 just days before launch, the results were… acceptable? The advanced capabilities of BlackSpace demand a lot of computational power that older consoles simply can’t provide, which brings us to the Switch 2.

Nintendo has never prioritized cutting-edge technology in its consoles, which is a key factor in its ability to sell products profitably. However, this approach can complicate cross-platform compatibility, although the Switch 2 has managed to perform surprisingly well with several major titles. Crimson Desert, on the other hand, presents a unique challenge. As Heo Jin-young noted, “Since the Switch still has lower specifications compared to other consoles, there are aspects we have to give up on.” Typically, this would be a reasonable trade-off, as Switch owners understand they aren’t using a high-end gaming rig, but for a game of this magnitude that heavily relies on its visuals, it’s a more difficult decision. He added, “Internally, we have taken an interest and have started R&D.” It remains uncertain whether this focus is solely on graphics or if the overall scale of the game will also need to be adjusted.

Interestingly, Crimson Desert is performing well without the need for additional sales, having sold three million copies in just four days, despite its somewhat clunky controls. The same shareholder meeting revealed that Pearl Abyss has not yet made a decision on whether to monetize the game further with paid DLC or to rely on free updates to attract new players. There’s also no conclusion on the possibility of mods, although the team seems interested, and multiplayer features still appear unlikely.