Heavy concessions…
As expected, Crimson Desert features three graphics modes for its console versions. Performance, Balanced, and Quality. After a few hours of play in each mode, trends clearly emerge and we report them to you. Know that, to put it simply, it’s completely playable, but not at any price. Double demo screenshots will always have Performance mode on the left, and Quality mode on the right.
Performance mode is obviously the one that delivers the best framerate most of the time. Unfortunately, we cannot say that 60 fps is constant either. Just in the village of Hernand, the first in the game, there are jerks due to a place more loaded with models and NPCs. When it comes to exploring the great outdoors, there is of course something better.
On the other hand, the visual rendering is in great difficulty. It’s impossible not to see an omnipresent blur, while the textures load or almost pop in front of our feet, certain flowers appear as we pass, and the vegetation sparkles enormously when two foliage cross (and this is often), which completely pollutes the panoramas at the start of the game. The reflections in certain water sources, and more generally everything related to lighting effects, are regularly random or pixelated.
When it comes to visiting indoor environments, the light also behaves very strangely, not to say that it sometimes does anything. As if she couldn’t understand whether we were inside or not. This is the case of the diffusion of a large natural light in a corner of a room while we are in the sewers.
Quality mode also gives us an immediate hot-cold effect. The resolution is much more acceptable and, although it alleviates the problems mentioned above, they are still there. In addition, the framerate capped at 30 fps amplifies a feeling of heaviness in handling, a bit like what Digital Foundry had already said on this subject when testing the Pro version. It’s probably the brain and a question of habit, but on a personal level, it’s difficult to tell you to go into this mode with your eyes closed, even if it is the most beautiful compared to the others.
And then we have the Balanced mode which, also not escaping pronounced framerate variations in busy environments, offers relatively fluid moments while sparing the blur of Performance mode. In other words, it offers what its name suggests and offers a viable compromise in order to benefit from Crimson Desert.
…but no implosion
Note that we do not currently have an Xbox Series X version, but that what is said above can be found on the Microsoft console. On the other hand, the Series S seems to suffer some additional difficulties, which is not so surprising for a model that is a little lighter technically.
Another subject, the silence of Pearl Abyss on these console versions has long made the public fear “a Cyberpunk 2077”, suggesting a broken game with problems as big as the nose in the middle of the face, at the limit of playable.
Well, unless the dust is swept under the rug further into the game, we are far from such an observation in terms of stability. No notable crashes or freezes to report, nor anything that is unpleasant to let go of the controller. Still, to enjoy an open world without invisible walls or loading times between regions, allow well over a minute between starting the game and arriving in the open world.
Finally, note that two patches were deployed in less than ten hours, at least on PS5 and Steam, a sign that the situation can only improve. Let’s make no mistake though, the game was probably not quite ready when the reviews came out as the Day One patch alone changed a lot of things.
If you haven’t decided to wait a little longer and have already tried the adventure Crimson Desertdon’t hesitate to take a look at our complete guide to get a lot of help in your game. And don’t forget our test, to find out what sauce you’re going to be eaten with.