With Crimson Desert just 15 days away from its March 19, 2026 launch, a growing wave of concern is sweeping through the gaming community. The issue is straightforward: nearly all public footage of the game so far has been captured on PC, and Pearl Abyss has yet to confirm basic performance targets for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. That silence has triggered uncomfortable comparisons to the disastrous console launch of Cyberpunk 2077 back in 2020, and the community is making its feelings very clear.
What Did The Developer Actually Say?
The situation came to a head on March 4, 2026, when Will Powers, Pearl Abyss’s PR and Marketing Director, responded publicly to a social media user who accused the studio of deliberately keeping console footage hidden.
Powers pushed back firmly, stating the studio was not hiding anything and that he had grown tired of repeating himself on the matter. He confirmed that Pearl Abyss plans to reveal console footage ahead of launch, giving players enough time to make a purchase decision before release. He also acknowledged the community’s right to information, calling it a matter of transparency, but drew a line at what he described as entitlement when players demand that information on their own timeline.
His social media post, which ended with the phrase “Let us cook? Please and thank you,” quickly became the focal point of the discussion, with many gamers finding the response dismissive given how close the game is to release.
Powers followed up on Reddit with a more measured statement, clarifying:
“People have the right to information to make an informed purchase. Simply put, that’s transparency, and that’s what we’re promising. But people demanding information on their timeline is entitlement, and that needs to end.”
Why Is The Community So Concerned?
The reaction from the community is not simply impatience. It connects directly to one of the most damaging launches in recent gaming history. When Cyberpunk 2077 released in 2020, developer CD Projekt Red withheld base console footage until the very last moment. Players who purchased the game on PS4 and Xbox One found it in a barely functional state, triggering mass refund requests, a public apology from the studio, and a PlayStation Store delisting. The backlash sent shockwaves through the industry that are still being felt today.
With Crimson Desert arriving as a brand-new IP from a studio whose primary reputation rests on Black Desert Online, a PC and mobile MMO, many console players feel they have every reason to ask the same questions now rather than after launch. Several key concerns are driving the discussion:
- All major public footage of Crimson Desert has been captured on PC, including trailers posted to the official PlayStation YouTube channel that carry a “captured on PC” disclaimer
- Console review codes have not been sent to press ahead of launch, with journalists only receiving PC review keys
- No performance targets have been confirmed for PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, meaning players do not know whether the game will target 30fps, 60fps, or offer any graphics or performance modes
- PS5 Pro support has been confirmed, with a release date trailer using PS5 Pro footage, but base PS5 performance remains unaddressed
- The “let us cook” phrasing struck many as a red flag given that the game goes live in under two weeks and has reportedly already gone gold
What Has Pearl Abyss Actually Confirmed?
Despite the uncertainty around console performance, Pearl Abyss has been transparent on several other fronts. Here is everything confirmed about Crimson Desert as of March 4, 2026:
| Detail | Status |
| Release Date | March 19, 2026 |
| Price | $69.99 |
| Microtransactions | Confirmed absent. No cosmetic cash shop of any kind |
| AI Voice Acting | Confirmed absent. All NPCs voiced by human actors |
| PS5 Pro Enhancements | Confirmed |
| Steam Wishlists | Surpassed 3 million |
| Difficulty Options | Confirmed absent at launch |
| Console Performance Targets | Not yet revealed |
| Console Review Codes | PC only ahead of launch |
On the positive side, Pearl Abyss confirmed that Digital Foundry will receive console review copies, meaning a dedicated performance analysis should be available around or shortly after launch. Content creator FightinCowboy, who received preview access, confirmed he asked about PlayStation performance but received no direct answer, though he noted the Digital Foundry confirmation as a meaningful signal.
How Is The Community Reacting?
The response across Reddit, X, and gaming forums has been a mix of genuine concern, cautious optimism, and frustration. The overall tone leans skeptical, with many players stating they plan to wait for post-launch performance reviews before committing to a console purchase.
A selection of community responses illustrates the range of reactions:
- On the “let us cook” response: Many found it tone-deaf given the proximity to launch, with several pointing out that a game that has been in development for years should not still be in a state where two weeks of additional time makes a meaningful difference to what can be shown
- On the Cyberpunk comparison: A large portion of the community drew direct parallels, referencing their personal experiences with the 2020 launch as the reason they now require console footage before any purchase
- On pre-ordering: The dominant advice across threads was to avoid pre-ordering entirely and wait for Digital Foundry’s console performance breakdown before spending any money
- On base PS5 vs PS5 Pro: Several players with PS5 Pro units expressed less concern for themselves personally but acknowledged that base PS5 owners deserved clear answers
- On the broader situation: Some offered a more measured perspective, noting that the developer running a custom engine rather than Unreal Engine 5 could mean better optimisation outcomes than comparable recent launches like Dragon’s Dogma 2
Is This Actually Another Cyberpunk Situation?
It is important to note the differences alongside the similarities. Cyberpunk 2077 launched on last-generation hardware including PS4 and Xbox One, platforms that were genuinely struggling to run the game at an acceptable level. Crimson Desert is a current-generation title only, releasing exclusively on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, which removes one of the core pressures that made the Cyberpunk situation so severe.
However, the parallels that the community draws are not entirely without merit. The pattern of PC-focused marketing, the absence of console review codes ahead of launch, and the lack of any confirmed performance targets do mirror the communication strategy that preceded Cyberpunk’s troubled release. Whether the underlying game performance matches that precedent remains to be seen.
Pearl Abyss has confirmed console footage will be released before launch. The question the community is asking is simply: when?
So, Should You Pre-Order Crimson Desert On Console?
You can pre-order Crimson Desert via the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Amazon at $69.99. However, given the current absence of confirmed console performance data, many in the community strongly recommend holding off until either Pearl Abyss releases dedicated console footage or Digital Foundry publishes its performance analysis around launch.
The game confirms no microtransactions, no cosmetic cash shop, and full human voice acting for NPCs, all of which are positives. However, for console players specifically, waiting a few extra days for concrete performance information is the cautious approach most experienced players are currently taking.
Crimson Desert releases on March 19, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Crimson Desert Release Details
| Detail | Info |
| Release Date | March 19, 2026 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
| Developer | Pearl Abyss |
| Price | $69.99 |
| Microtransactions | None confirmed |
| PS5 Pro Support | Confirmed |
| Console Review Codes | Not sent to press ahead of launch |
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