Crimson Desert PS5 vs PS5 Pro: Differences explained

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There’s been a lot of talk about Pearl Abyss’s new single-player RPG, and some players were curious why we only saw gameplay from the PC and PS5 Pro versions before launch. Now that footage of the standard PS5 version is available, we can compare the differences between the PS5 and PS5 Pro versions of Crimson Desert.

If you’re not a fan of playing games on consoles, you might be interested in the computer requirements for Crimson Desert. Since Pearl Abyss usually creates online multiplayer games, many players are wondering if Crimson Desert will also be a multiplayer experience.

This game looks like it’s going to be very popular, and many people will likely play it. However, if you prefer to wait until any initial problems are fixed and more content is added, you can explore other games scheduled for release in 2026 and later!

Let’s take a look at how the standard PlayStation 5 version of Crimson Desert compares to the more powerful PlayStation 5 Pro.

Crimson Desert PS5 vs PS5 Pro: Differences explained

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The primary distinctions between Crimson Desert on PS5 and PS5 Pro involve visual quality: resolution, ray tracing, and overall image clarity. The PS5 Pro delivers a noticeably sharper picture and improved lighting effects.

A new Digital Foundry video offers a detailed look at how Crimson Desert performs on the PlayStation 5 Pro, showcasing its graphics. You can see how it compares to the game running on a standard PS5 in a video shared by PlayStation Japan on YouTube.

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The technical specs for Crimson Desert reveal that both the PlayStation 5 and the more powerful PS5 Pro offer three graphics settings – Performance, Balanced, and Quality – but how these settings look and run will vary between the two consoles.

When ray tracing on the PlayStation 5, the Performance and Balanced modes use lower settings, while Quality mode uses higher settings. The PlayStation 5 Pro, however, uses higher settings for both Performance and Balanced modes, and the ultra settings for Quality mode.

On the PS5 Pro, lighting will appear more realistic because the system can calculate more light reflections, and do so with greater detail.

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One of the most noticeable improvements with the PS5 Pro is the image quality. It uses an updated technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) to make games look much sharper and clearer. PSSR works like similar technologies from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, enhancing the picture without significant performance loss.

On PlayStation 5, the game offers three graphics modes: Performance mode runs at 1080p, Balanced mode renders at 1280p and upscales to 4K using FSR3, and a third option renders at 1440p, also upscaled to 4K with FSR3. While FSR3 doesn’t produce as sharp of an image as PSSR 2, the base resolution is still high enough that the game should look great on most TVs.

The PS5 Pro boosts visuals in Performance and Balanced modes by upscaling from 1080p and 1440p, respectively. In Quality mode, it renders games at a crisp, native 4K resolution. However, details about how it smooths out jagged edges with anti-aliasing haven’t been shared.

The game’s frame rate changes depending on the chosen mode and your TV’s capabilities. On PS5, if your TV doesn’t support variable refresh rate (VRR), you’ll get 60 frames per second (FPS) in Performance mode or 30 FPS in Quality mode. However, if your TV has VRR and a 120Hz refresh rate, you can play in Performance mode with an unlocked frame rate, potentially exceeding 60 FPS, or around 40 FPS in Balanced mode.

On a PS5 Pro, you can expect smooth gameplay at 60 frames per second or higher if you’re using a VRR-compatible display. Otherwise, the game runs at either 40-48 frames per second in Balanced mode, or a steady 30 frames per second in Quality mode.

No matter what gaming console you own, you’re sure to enjoy playing Crimson Desert!

Crimson Desert will be released on March 19, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, MacOS, and Xbox Series X/S.

Authors

Cole LukeFreelance Writer

Hey, I’m Cole Luke, and I’m a freelance journalist who makes videos. I write for TopMob Gaming, but you might also find my stuff on sites like Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, and Network N. Basically, I love covering games!

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2026-03-18 20:06