Crimson Desert Console Performance: Digital Foundry Raises Concerns & Awaits Copies

Media outlets worldwide, including Digital Foundry, have yet to receive console versions of Crimson Desert for review. In a recent video, Digital Foundry confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the publisher regarding console copies, making it uncertain whether they will be able to publish materials on the console versions by the game's release day.

It's already clear that reviews for the console versions will not be available on launch day. The developers, known for Black Desert, have historically focused on the PC market, a common trend in South Korea where PC gaming significantly outweighs consoles in popularity.

The published technical specifications for the console versions also raise questions. For the 60 frames per second (fps) mode on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, only 1080p resolution is stated without any upscaling to 4K. If these details are accurate, the image in performance mode could appear blurry. Upscaling to 4K is only promised for 40 or 30 fps modes, utilizing FSR 3 technology.

The only console officially specified to achieve 4K resolution at 60 fps is the PlayStation 5 Pro. This is accomplished using PSSR technology, which reconstructs the image from 1080p to 4K.

Amidst these concerns, some players fear potential technical problems, drawing parallels to the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 on PS4, where only PC version reviews were published before the game's release. In such a situation, many recommend waiting for technical tests of the console versions before making a purchase.

An editor from Digital Foundry commented:

“We will be tracking the console versions of Crimson Desert and will try to publish something on release day. (...) I don't think they are trying to hide anything. They are trying to help us get access to the game. We will soon find out how things truly stand. (...) I still haven't seen how the game runs on consoles.”