The marketing campaign for the anticipated game Crimson Desert prominently featured a protagonist soaring through the skies on the back of a massive dragon. However, it has since become apparent that this impressive form of travel is far from consistently available, triggering a wave of dissatisfaction among the player base.
Early advertisements showcased the hero riding a variety of creatures, including dragons, wolves, bears, and more. For many, these visuals strongly suggested that these creatures could be unlocked and utilized as permanent mounts for traversing the expansive game world. The reality, unfortunately, has proven to be much more constrained.
Players have discovered that the only truly permanent companions that can be freely summoned are horses. While it is possible to temporarily ride other creatures, the mechanic is not as anticipated. Instead of a persistent taming system, players must first exhaust a wild beast, after which it can be ridden for a brief period before it quickly reverts to an aggressive state.
The most significant point of contention revolves around the end-game dragon. While there is an option for temporary access, players are severely restricted: dragon flight is capped at just 15 minutes of real-world time, followed by a lengthy 50-minute cooldown period. This limitation has provoked intense criticism from the community.
On platforms like Reddit, players are openly accusing developer Pearl Abyss of misleading its audience. Many believe the creators intentionally showcased ridable bears and wolves in trailers, fully aware that the in-game implementation would fall short of player expectations. The dominant sentiment in community discussions is a firm demand for change. Fans are actively pressuring the studio to release an update that would allow for more permanent and unrestricted summoning of these desired creatures.