Overview
Movement Controls is an input setting added to Crimson Desert in Patch 1.02.00, released on April 4, 2026. The option lets players choose between two different sprint input schemes, called Basic and Classic. Pearl Abyss added it in direct response to player feedback after the previous patch (1.01.x) changed how sprinting worked, so that anyone who preferred the original launch-era controls could restore them without losing the new behavior.
The setting applies globally to both on-foot character movement and mounts. Both schemes can be swapped at any time from the Input settings menu, so players are free to experiment during ordinary travel before committing during a long quest chain or mission.
How to Access
Open the menu and navigate to:
Main Menu > Others > Settings > Input > Movement Controls
The option lives in the Input subsection alongside other controls settings. Changes apply immediately and do not require a zone reload.
Basic vs. Classic
The two schemes differ in how the sprint key is used and how stamina is consumed.
Setting | Input Method | Stamina Behavior | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
Basic | Hold the sprint key to accelerate. | Stamina is consumed at set intervals while the key is held. | Players who prefer modern hold-to-sprint controls and steady, predictable stamina drain. |
Classic | Repeatedly press the sprint key to accelerate. | Stamina is consumed each time the sprint key is pressed. | Players who prefer the original launch-era tap-to-sprint feel and want stamina usage tied to their own input cadence. |
All wording in the Input Method and Stamina Behavior columns is taken directly from the official Pearl Abyss patch 1.02.00 notice.
Mount Sprinting
Movement Controls applies to mount riding as well as on-foot sprinting. Under Basic, the rider holds the sprint key and the mount accelerates smoothly, with stamina drawn at set intervals rather than per keypress. Under Classic, the rider repeatedly taps the sprint key to urge the mount forward, and stamina is consumed on each press, mirroring the original launch behavior.
Crucially, patch 1.02.00 also shipped a related fix that closed a long-standing exploit. From the official notes: an issue where repeatedly pressing the sprint key would allow a horse to run at maximum speed regardless of its stats has been fixed. In other words, under Classic in 1.02.00 and later, rapid tapping no longer bypasses a horse's Speed stat. Top speed on a mount now reflects the animal's actual stats regardless of which Movement Controls scheme you pick, so Classic is a true input preference rather than a performance advantage.
Why It Was Added
Patch 1.01.x changed sprinting from the original tap-to-run input to a hold-to-run input, which frustrated a segment of players who had grown used to the launch control feel. Community coverage from outlets such as OpenCritic explicitly noted that Pearl Abyss addressed players who prefer the old sprint system with patch 1.02.00. VULKK framed the update as a batch of "even more requested changes," and the official notice itself places the new option among control-related improvements added in response to player feedback.
Pearl Abyss did not want to force a single control scheme on the community, so they kept the new hold-to-sprint behavior available as Basic while restoring the launch tap-to-sprint behavior as Classic. The horse stat fix was bundled in so that reintroducing the Classic scheme would not also reintroduce the old maximum-speed exploit.
Tips
If you prefer a relaxed playstyle with fewer inputs during long rides or cross-map travel, pick Basic. Stamina drains on a fixed timer, which makes it easier to plan rests on foot and on horseback.
If you came from the launch build and your muscle memory still taps the sprint key rhythmically, switch to Classic. Stamina now scales with how often you press, so a lighter tap cadence can actually stretch your stamina bar further than constant mashing.
On mounts, mashing no longer overrides horse stats after patch 1.02.00. If your current mount feels slow under Classic, that is a stats issue, not a control issue. Upgrade your horse or swap to a higher-Speed mount rather than mashing harder.
Both schemes are swappable at any time from the Input settings, so experiment during ordinary travel before committing during a long quest chain or mission.
The setting is global. It affects sprinting on foot and on mounts together, so you cannot mix Basic on foot with Classic on horseback.