In recent years, the landscape of PC gaming has been marked by a significant optimization challenge. Developers have increasingly relied on upscaling technologies like Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR to deliver visually stunning games, often at the expense of performance. However, Crimson Desert emerges as a refreshing exception to this trend. While undeniably beautiful, albeit with some bugs, the game’s developer, Pearl Abyss, has set impressively reasonable system requirements ahead of its launch. Notably, some configurations recommend upscaling, while others do not, prompting a desire to test the game at native resolution to assess its performance firsthand.
Testing revealed that while Crimson Desert does exhibit some struggles on lower-end graphics cards, such as the Radeon RX 6500 XT, enabling FSR effectively elevates the frame rate beyond the coveted 60 fps mark. As players transition to mid-range setups, the game demonstrates that upscaling can enhance both image quality and performance without becoming a necessity.
How I Tested
The breadth of hardware represented in Crimson Desert’s system requirements caught my attention. The minimum specification calls for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, a GPU that debuted a decade ago. This wide range of hardware necessitates a well-optimized game, prompting me to delve deeper into its performance scalability. However, the hardware range proved to be somewhat too expansive; for instance, the minimum requirements include an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, which I no longer possess. Instead, I opted for the Ryzen 5 7600 for lower-end builds and switched to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D for higher-end configurations.
Another consideration was the memory requirement of 16GB across all recommendation levels. Unfortunately, I only had 16GB DDR5 sticks available, which meant I had to run them in single-channel mode, potentially impacting performance. While acquiring a dual-channel 16GB kit would be ideal, current RAM prices deterred me from that route. Fortunately, I had access to a variety of graphics cards to evaluate most of the performance tiers, with the exception of the GTX 1060. My old GTX 1060 Founders Edition, however, decided it was time to retire, leaving me to explore other options.
Despite lacking the minimum spec GPU, I was able to test the game on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. Interestingly, Pearl Abyss’ system requirements for the handheld device mirror those for the 2016 graphics card, recommending minimum graphics settings at 1080p upscaled from a lower resolution. While the GTX 1060 would likely outperform the handheld, the difference is marginal. To gauge frame rates across various GPUs, I recorded performance while navigating Hernand Town, the game’s initial city. Although this location is not the most demanding, it provides a consistent environment for assessing baseline frame rates.
Rather than applying uniform settings across all GPUs, I aimed to test Crimson Desert’s recommended configurations for each graphics card. This approach revealed that Pearl Abyss may have underestimated the game’s performance capabilities.
Crimson Desert Xbox Ally X Performance
While the Steam Deck enjoys popularity, Crimson Desert is currently incompatible with SteamOS. The only option for handheld play lies with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X or similar Windows devices. Pearl Abyss recommends three settings profiles for the Xbox Ally X: ‘Performance’, ‘Balanced’, and ‘Quality’, with the first two heavily relying on upscaling and frame generation. Unlike desktop specifications, these profiles lack a recommended graphics preset. After testing, it became clear that the ‘Minimum’ preset is the way to go. Running Crimson Desert at 1080p with FSR set to Quality yields 40 fps, which is playable, though the minimum settings may not be visually appealing. Enabling FSR frame generation can push the frame rate to 67 fps, but this introduces noticeable input lag, detracting from the overall experience. Given the game’s stunning visuals at higher quality settings, a gaming PC or console remains the preferable option for an optimal experience.
PC Performance
Despite its impressive graphics, Crimson Desert surprisingly runs smoothly on decent hardware. Although I lacked the GTX 1060 for minimum spec testing, I did have an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, which performed better than expected, exceeding Pearl Abyss’ performance claims. Pairing the 6500 XT with the Ryzen 7600, which is significantly faster than the recommended 2600X, resulted in an average of 40 fps at low settings without upscaling. When FSR was enabled on the ‘Balanced’ preset, rendering the game at 635p, the frame rate climbed to 53 fps, edging closer to the 60 fps target.
The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the first card that Pearl Abyss claims can achieve 60 fps at the Medium preset and 1080p. In my tests around Hernand Town, the 6700 consistently averaged 65 fps. Enabling FSR further increased the average fps to 83, while also activating ray tracing without any performance issues. Transitioning to the Nvidia RTX 4070, I explored a new resolution: 1440p. With the high preset, the game looked stunning, averaging 75 fps without upscaling.
According to Pearl Abyss, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT should support 60 fps at the Ultra preset in native 4K. In my testing, the 9070 XT managed to just reach that threshold, averaging 62 fps. However, when FSR was set to Performance, rendering the game at 1080p and upscaling to 4K, the 9070 XT achieved a solid 75 fps. Although I lacked an RTX 5070 Ti for direct comparison, the RTX 5080 delivered 74 fps under the same conditions, aligning with expectations for Nvidia’s second-best graphics card.
For those curious, there is a graphics preset above Ultra, although Pearl Abyss does not specify a recommended graphics card for it. The Cinematic preset maximizes nearly all settings, except for lighting, which has a ‘max’ option above it. Testing this with an RTX 5090 at 4K without DLSS yielded an average of 95 fps. Activating DLSS and Frame Generation pushed the performance to an impressive 338 fps with the same quality settings.
Can You Play Crimson Desert?
Given the impressive performance of Crimson Desert across various graphics cards, it stands out as one of the most well-optimized PC games in recent memory. Despite its expansive view distances and stunning lighting, most modern graphics cards can run the game without relying on upscaling. Both DLSS and FSR are supported, enhancing performance without sacrificing visual fidelity. Even on the Xbox Ally X, which is notably less powerful than the desktop GPUs tested, Crimson Desert performs admirably. While it may not fully utilize the handheld’s 144Hz display, it remains a viable option for gaming on the go. Moving forward, Pearl Abyss will need to address compatibility with SteamOS and Bazzite. However, it’s essential to note that despite the game’s optimization, it is not without its share of bugs and quirks, which are worth exploring further in our review of Crimson Desert.
