The well-known experts from Digital Foundry were allowed an extensive look at the PS5 Pro version of Crimson Desert. Information about the regular PS5 version is still missing.
Developer Pearl Abyss has now published the official specs for the PS5 version and shown some details. However, there is still a lack of solid information regarding the console version.
What was tested and who was allowed to test it? Now the team from Digital Foundry was able to see the action-adventure on the PS5 Pro. Digital Foundry is known for its extensive game tests and is considered reputable in its field.
However, it is important to note that they were only allowed to test the Pro version by Pearl Abyss. The regular PS5 is nowhere mentioned. We are still waiting for solid information on how well the game runs on the regular PS5.
Crimson Desert is “definitely a phenomenal experience.”
What do the experts praise? The testers commend that Crimson Desert looks really nice on the PS5 Pro and is equipped with a level of detail that one does not expect from the PS5 Pro:
Pearl Abyss also ensures even more richness of detail by using displacement mapping to an extent I’ve never seen before, simulating depth within the textures, allowing every stone and brick to stand out in detail.
Both balance and quality mode make a good impression according to testers and deliver a stable frame rate without having to sacrifice many details. The promised frame rates are reportedly achieved: 60 FPS in performance mode, 40 FPS in balance, and 30 FPS in quality.
Overall, the testers give a positive verdict on the PS5 Pro version. They write in their blog: “For owners of a PS5 Pro, Crimson Desert definitely offers a phenomenal experience.”
The official video from Digital Foundry has been embedded for you. The video is in English, but you can see the impressions in the video:
Frame drops in plenty of chaos and a few technical issues
Where are the problems on the PS5 Pro? Performance issues mainly occur when there is a lot happening. The tester cites the battle for Bughill, which should be located at the Gunlore Outpost. Here, the FPS drop significantly, hovering around 36/37 FPS.
Currently, there are also a few issues with VRR. Since there is officially no support for Low Frame Rate Compensation (LFC), experts claim that there is often significant screen tearing on the PS5 Pro. LFC is a feature of VRR and is meant to usually prevent this and cushion severely dropping frame rates.
However, the experts point out that the PS5 Pro is officially supposed to support the feature and therefore hope for an improvement with a future patch. Pearl Abyss might still provide this function.
Another problem that occurs repeatedly and can be seen in the video: excessive “pop-in” of details in the game. Sometimes details or content are only loaded after getting close enough. This can certainly disrupt immersion in the game world.
What information is missing? Digital Foundry received the version for the PS5 Pro. There are still no impressions regarding the performance on the regular PS5 – a piece of information many players are waiting for. One user under the video with over 2,000 upvotes writes: “I am patiently waiting for the basic PS5 analysis.”
Crimson Desert is an action-adventure with role-playing elements and an open world. It comes from the developers of Black Desert and is set to be released in 2026. We at MeinMMO will reveal everything about the release date, the editions, the trailers, and more: Crimson Desert: All about release, platforms, editions & multiplayer at a glance
