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Overview

Crimson Desert launched on March 19, 2026 without support for Intel Arc discrete GPUs or Intel integrated Arc graphics. Players who attempted to run the game on any Intel Arc hardware received a "The graphics device is currently not supported" error and the game refused to start. The affected hardware included the entire Arc discrete lineup (A770, A750, A580, and B-series Battlemage) as well as integrated Arc graphics found in Intel Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake mobile processors.

The incompatibility was not disclosed on the Steam store page before launch. Pearl Abyss initially directed affected buyers to seek refunds, which triggered public criticism from both the community and Intel itself. Within days, Pearl Abyss reversed course and committed to adding Intel Arc support.

Initial Response (March 19-21)

After players reported launch failures on Intel Arc hardware, Pearl Abyss updated the official Crimson Desert FAQ to confirm the incompatibility. The FAQ stated that the game "currently does not support Intel Arc graphics cards" and told affected customers to "refer to the refund policy of the platform where the game was purchased." The FAQ did not mention a planned compatibility patch, a driver workaround, or any timeline for future support.

The refund guidance drew sharp criticism. Players pointed out that Intel Arc GPUs meet or exceed the game's listed minimum specifications for GPU performance, and that the lack of pre-launch disclosure felt deceptive. Negative Steam reviews citing Intel Arc incompatibility contributed to the game's early "Mixed" rating.

Intel's Public Statement

Intel responded publicly through statements to Tom's Hardware and VideoCardz. Intel revealed that it had reached out to Pearl Abyss "many times" over several years to help test, validate, and optimize Crimson Desert for Intel graphics. According to Intel, the company provided early hardware, driver builds, and dedicated engineering resources across multiple GPU generations, including Alchemist, Battlemage, Meteor Lake, and Lunar Lake.

Intel described itself as "hugely disappointed" by the launch outcome and said it "remain[ed] ready to assist" Pearl Abyss with compatibility work. The statement asked Pearl Abyss to explain its decision not to enable Intel support at launch.

Pearl Abyss Reversal (March 23-24)

Following sustained community backlash and press coverage, Pearl Abyss changed course. The official Crimson Desert social media account announced: "We are currently working on compatibility and optimization support so that Crimson Desert can also be enjoyed on Intel Arc GPU systems."

Pearl Abyss apologized "for any confusion our FAQ wording from several hours ago regarding playability on Intel Arc GPUs may have caused." The original refund language was removed from the FAQ.

Current Status

As of Patch 1.00.03 (March 23, 2026), some Intel Arc GPU users report that the game can now launch. However, the experience remains rough. Many users encounter missing textures, broken shaders, or boot to an in-game black screen. Performance drops and stability issues are common even on higher-end Arc cards like the A770 and B580.

Pearl Abyss has not announced a specific date for full Intel Arc optimization. The developer has asked players to remain patient while work continues. Intel confirmed it is actively collaborating with Pearl Abyss on the effort.

Affected Hardware

See Also

• System Requirements

• Performance and Graphics Settings

• Known Bugs and Issues

• Patch Notes

Patch Update: XSS 3.0 and Frame Generation Support

Proper Intel Arc GPU Support is finally available after a bumpy launch period. Intel Arc owners initially saw the developer recommend refunds, then watched the FAQ flip from saying support was already live to saying it was still in the works. The latest gameplay update closes that loop by shipping confirmed driver-level support.

The patch adds Intel XSS 3.0 (Xe Super Sampling) and frame generation as toggleable options in the graphics menu. Both can be enabled on Arc A-series cards, but the developer has noted that A-series performance with these features turned on is the weakest end of the support matrix and is expected to improve over time. Treat the current build as a strong first step rather than a final state. B-series cards see the cleanest gains from XSS 3.0 plus frame generation today.

If you tried the game on an Arc card during the early launch confusion, this is the right moment to revisit it. Reinstall, update your Arc driver to the latest stable release, and turn on both XSS 3.0 and frame generation in the graphics menu.