Crimson Desert PS5 Pro Performance Mode “Surprised” Digital Foundry “By How Good it Was Overall”

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With the March 17th release of the open-world game Crimson Desert approaching, Digital Foundry has shared a detailed look at how the game runs on the PlayStation 5 Pro. In a nearly 30-minute video, they explore the game’s performance on the console and all the settings players can adjust to optimize visuals and gameplay.

The PS5 Pro version of Crimson Desert will let players choose from three graphics modes: Performance, Balanced, and Quality. Performance mode prioritizes smooth gameplay at 60 frames per second (or higher with compatible displays), with high-quality lighting effects and a resolution that starts at 1080p but is scaled up to 4K. Balanced mode targets 40 FPS (or over 48 FPS on certain displays) while scaling 1440p to 4K, also with high-quality lighting. Quality mode delivers the sharpest visuals at native 4K resolution with the best lighting effects, but limits the frame rate to 30 FPS. The image upscaling used in Performance and Balanced modes is done using Sony’s PSSR technology.

In a recent video, Digital Foundry’s John Linneman described Crimson Desert as “visually stunning.” Regarding performance, Digital Foundry is waiting to fully evaluate the game until its official release. However, they’ve found the game’s Performance mode is surprisingly capable of reaching its target of 60 frames per second. Linneman was impressed overall, but noted that frame rates can dip in areas with lots of characters, both friendly and hostile. In one particularly crowded scene, the frame rate dropped as low as 30 FPS.

Digital Foundry’s testing revealed that the game currently uses an older version of its image upscaling technology (PSSR), resulting in noticeable visual imperfections like smearing on plants and some noise with ray tracing. Linneman explained that Pearl Abyss intends to launch with a newer version, PSSR 2, but he couldn’t fully evaluate image quality with the current build. He anticipates significant improvements once the upgraded PSSR is implemented.

Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter told IGN that Pearl Abyss gave them full access to test the PS5 Pro, allowing them to report on anything they wanted.

He explained that while graphics weren’t his biggest worry, the game’s impact on the computer’s processor was. He acknowledged it could be resource-intensive, but was generally pleased with how well it ran in its three different modes. What really stood out, though, was the game’s massive world, its ambitious scope, and the complex systems that drive it. The game performs excellently on high-end PCs and the PlayStation 5 Pro, and they’re excited to see how it runs on other consoles.

The highly anticipated game, Crimson Desert, is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Here are 15 reasons why we’re looking forward to it.

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2026-03-13 18:11