Recent graphical adjustments for Crimson Desert on PS5 have proven insufficient. The game is still heavily hampered by persistent frame rate problems, especially after the inclusion of FSR in its “60 FPS” mode. The publisher notably did not send out console review copies prior to release, which meant that for an extended period, only PC version reviews were available online.
To provide an impartial assessment, PushSquare’s editorial team even chose to forgo a PC review, opting instead to purchase the game on PS5 for a fair evaluation.
The results were disheartening: the publication rated the game 6/10. Among their primary criticisms were:
- Significantly poor performance on PS5;
- Graphical glitches evident even on PS5 Pro;
- A notable absence of crucial quality-of-life features;
- The game frequently feels more like an early access project.
On the base PS5, the performance mode exhibits constant screen tearing and an extremely blurry 1080p resolution. While the 30 FPS quality mode offers a more stable image, texture quality remains notably low. The situation doesn’t improve on the PS5 Pro, where frame rates can dip below 20 FPS in larger camps, leading to a frustrating experience.
PSSR practically hangs when you’re inside a building, struggling to render light and shadow details against various wall textures. This leads to horrible artifacts and distractingly unnatural lighting; even character models acquire an unsightly metallic sheen, indicating a serious flaw in the upscaler’s use.
PlayStation Country, also giving the game a 6/10, echoed concerns, additionally criticizing the controls and optimization:
There’s a boss in Chapter Five where the frame rate on PS5 drops so severely that, for me, it’s unplayable.