Crimson Desert: A New Standard for Open-World Gaming on PS5 Pro

Pearl Abyss has delivered something genuinely groundbreaking with Crimson Desert, powered by their proprietary BlackSpace Engine. This engine showcases an open world unlike any other, boasting immense near-field detail and a massive scale that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. While much of the initial footage showcased the game on PC, the question remained: how would it translate to consoles?

Impressive Performance on PlayStation 5 Pro

Pearl Abyss confidently provided Digital Foundry with a near-final build of Crimson Desert for the PlayStation 5 Pro, and the results are nothing short of impressive. The sheer size and scope of the open world are remarkable, but it’s the systems-driven action within that truly stands out. Rather than simply describing the experience, it’s best to see it firsthand (see Digital Foundry’s video analysis).

Ray Tracing and Visual Fidelity

The rendering in Crimson Desert is heavily reliant on ray-traced diffuse global illumination, a feature that remains a highlight even on consoles. Sunlight dynamically bounces indoors, and local light sources, like a character’s lantern, cast dramatic real-time shadows. Ray tracing is enabled across all three graphics modes on PS5 Pro, ensuring consistent lighting quality throughout the game.

While not flawless – the denoiser occasionally exhibits streaking in high-contrast areas – it’s significantly less intrusive than issues seen in titles like Resident Evil Requiem. Pearl Abyss further enhances visual fidelity with displacement mapping at an unprecedented scale, simulating depth within textures and making every stone and brick appear incredibly detailed.

Graphics Modes and Upscaling

Crimson Desert offers three graphics modes: Optimal (Performance), Balanced, and Quality, targeting 60fps, 40fps, and 30fps respectively. The game aims for base resolutions of 1080p, 1440p, and 4K for each mode. The Optimal and Balanced modes utilize PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Resolution Scaling) to upscale to a 4K output. It’s important to note that the version tested featured a first-generation PSSR, with an upgraded version expected to deliver even more impressive results, similar to those seen in Resident Evil Requiem.

VRR and Potential Issues

The game also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), with the Balanced mode operating at 48Hz+. However, a lack of Low Frame-Rate Compensation (LFC) support is a concern. The game can occasionally drop outside the VRR window, resulting in noticeable screen tearing. This is an area Pearl Abyss should address in future patches, as LFC support is readily available within the PS5 SDK.

Scalability and Optimization

The core question was whether the high-end PC experience would translate well to consoles. The answer is largely yes. While upscaling is used in the Optimal and Balanced modes, the base resolutions are high enough to provide a visually pleasing experience, even with the initial PSSR implementation. CPU limitations were a greater concern, given the disparity between current-gen console CPUs and mid-range PC processors. However, the game never feels “poorly optimized,” and performance remains solid.

Looking Ahead

For PS5 Pro owners, Crimson Desert delivers a phenomenal experience. Future updates, particularly those incorporating the upgraded PSSR, promise to further enhance visual quality. The Balanced mode currently offers the best overall experience, but the improved PSSR could make the higher frame rates of the Optimal mode even more appealing. The performance on the base PS5 and Xbox Series consoles remains to be seen, but the initial signs are very encouraging.

Further Reading:

• Resident Evil Requiem Review – Eurogamer
• PS5 PSSR 2.0 Explained – Digital Foundry