Pearl Abyss is now preparing for the long-awaited launch of open-world action-adventure game Crimson Desert on PC, Mac, and consoles. While we’d received a good look at the (surprisingly tame) PC system requirements a while back, it’s only now that we know what players should expect from the console versions.
Today, 10th March, nine days before the game’s planned 19th March release, the developer released an in-depth look at performance modes across PS5 and Xbox consoles. It’s a lot to digest at first, so allow us to synthesise all this information as much as possible. You can find the official specs table right here though:
As expected from similar open-world titles, such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, in recent times, Crimson Desert will have three different modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X (which seem to be running identical configurations as usual):
- Performance targets 1080p at 60 FPS with VSync, but can be uncapped to go over that framerate target in VRR compatible displays (HDMI 2.1 cable required). Ray tracing has been set to Low.
- Balanced will strike a middle ground between resolution and performance at upscaled 4K from a 1280p native image (thanks to FSR 3). It runs at 40 FPS with VSync and doesn’t provide changes in Ray tracing. As always, 120 or 240Hz are required to use this mode (plus the corresponding HDMI 2.1 cable).
- Quality upscales to 4K from 1440p native, locks at 30 FPS VSync and notably boosts the Ray tracing to a High setting. The resolution shouldn’t look much different, but you’ll be getting all the bells and whistles with this mode if you can stomach 30 FPS.
PS5 Pro comes in punching higher, offering the same three modes but with far higher visual fidelity and native resolutions across the board:
- Performance upscales the 1080p native res. to 4K through PSSR, also offers an uncapped option (which could potentially reach higher), and doesn’t lower the RT setting from the High setting.
- Balanced upscales to 4K from 1440p and surprisingly opens up to “48+ FPS” via VRR if you’d like to go beyond 40 FPS cap with VSync. RT stays on High.
- Quality scraps upscaling altogether, delivers native 4K at 30 FPS and shockingly dares to take the RT setting to Ultra. Safe to say, this will be the top tier mode on consoles for raw image quality.
Meanwhile, the puny Xbox Series S is having a hard time with Crimson Desert, and this is why:
- Performance won’t go above 720p (a res. target which was disappointing even last generation) or have any RT features, yet it can only aspire to hit 40 FPS.
- Quality will take things up to a more palatable 1080p output at 30 FPS (can’t ask for more, sorry), but forget about RT Low; it’s simply too much for Microsoft’s entry-level machine.
Last but not least, Pearl Abyss also shared the specs and expected system requirements for the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X (officially supported) as well as Mac computers:
There isn’t much to discuss on this front, at least until the game arrives and benchmarks begin to pour in, but it seems the ROG Xbox Ally X will handle the game surprisingly well even if the presets on the shared table aren’t the most descriptive (they’ll have to use a tailored mix of multiple PC settings). At the time of writing, official Steam Deck support hasn’t been confirmed, but judging by the minimum PC requirements shared a while back, it might not be a pleasant experience.
Regardless of what ends up happening when the game and press reviews arrive, the first premium single-player game from Pearl Abyss is poised to be a massive hit. At least that’s what the wishlist numbers are suggesting alongside highly positive social media buzz.
